IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL AND IN COUNTRY INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING OF VACCINES AND DRUGS ESPECIALLY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES

 Africa is endowed with so many resources – both human and natural resources. This makes it a continent that remains in focus and creates great interest from other continents.

Over the years, the continent has been plagued by all outbreaks of diseases ranging from malaria to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas some of the conditions are peculiar to Africa or regions in Africa, sources of drugs have greatly been from other countries. One of the challenges has been accessing raw materials for the manufacture of drugs. Research and development on this are critical to reducing over-dependency on other countries. The continent is home to very many indigenous plants that are used for medicinal purposes especially traditionally and this creates a potential for expansion to the production of nutraceuticals at a commercial level in more controlled hygienic environments. The plants can also be used in the manufacture of more medicines. Instead of selling raw products which end up being processed in other countries and sold back to the continent at exorbitant rates, the continent should invest and make finished products for both local and export markets.

This dependency on foreign sources has always created an under-dog kind of relationship with the source countries sometimes ignoring the predicament of the importing country. One of the best examples has been the vaccines for the COVID-19 Pandemic. But for the dosages that had been secured through COVAX, many African countries could not readily gain access to the vaccines from the manufacturing nations.

It is interesting that despite much research on diseases and relevant vaccines and drugs, findings are sent outside the continent for production. For example, the continent should have a fully functional, top-of-the-range anti-malarial drugs and vaccines indigenous manufacturing pharmaceutical company that would serve the region in the least.

Governments should set aside more finances and resources to encourage regional research and manufacture of drugs and vaccines with a focus on conditions that are more common in the region. Just as there are efforts such as the OAU with a specific headquarter, there can also be the Africa Centre for research and development of these drugs and vaccines. The participating countries would then be required to contribute the necessary capital and other resources to ensure success, sustenance, and accountability. Joint efforts would make the workload less, reduced time, and agreed on the pricing of the final products. This will also enhance the benefits that the OAU should be given to member states. Working as blocs would also enhance regional cohesion while tapping the best minds in R&D and manufacturing of the agreed-upon medications and vaccines.

Where it is not possible for this magnitude of collaboration, the various governments that already have the infrastructure for manufacturing these pharmaceutical products should be supported with all required tax waivers, given a greater percentage of all government procurements of the said products and where possible a ban on imports of the products that are manufactured locally.