Experts Demand Pharmaceutical Sovereignty and Reforms to Secure West Africa's Drug Supply
As West African nations grapple with heavy reliance on imported medicines and fragile supply chains, health and industry experts have issued a clarion call for pharmaceutical sovereignty and immediate financing reforms to bolster drug security throughout the region. This urgent appeal was central to discussions at the third edition of the Pharma West Africa Conference, held in Lagos, which convened policymakers, manufacturers, researchers, investors, and health professionals to devise practical strategies for achieving self-sufficiency, resilient supply systems, and sustainable access to essential medicines.
Addressing the Core Challenges of Import Dependence
Experts emphasized that reducing import dependence extends beyond merely expanding manufacturing capacity. They argued that countries must also establish robust financing systems capable of sustaining local production and ensuring predictable procurement. The lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely disrupted global supply chains and restricted access to vital medicines across Africa, underscore the critical need for stronger domestic pharmaceutical infrastructures.
In his keynote address, Dr. Olamide Okulaja, Chief Growth Officer at Maisha Meds International, highlighted a stark paradox: Africa continues to import over 70 percent of the medicines it consumes, despite possessing factories, pharmacists, and scientific expertise. He revealed that between 70 and 95 percent of medicines used continent-wide are imported, while 30 to 60 percent of existing pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity remains underutilized due to weak demand signals and fragmented procurement systems.
A Holistic Approach to Self-Sufficiency
Okulaja explained that achieving self-sufficiency is not solely a manufacturing issue but an integration challenge involving three interconnected layers: the service layer, where patients seek care; the capital layer, where investments flow; and the production layer, where manufacturers operate. He noted that many medicine purchases through pharmacies and patent medicine vendors occur outside formal health databases, complicating accurate supply planning for governments and producers.
He warned of declining reliance on donor funding to sustain health systems, as financing for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programs plateaus while co-financing obligations increase. Countries are increasingly expected to take ownership of their systems, yet manufacturers face uncertain offtake and fragmented procurement pipelines. Okulaja stressed that manufacturers require predictable systems to forecast volumes, payment cycles, and quality standards, suggesting that health insurance could provide a reliable source of structured demand.
"When demand is organised and verified, manufacturers can produce against guaranteed offtake, lenders can support stable cash flows, and pharmacies can stock quality medicines with confidence," he stated. This shift would enable governments to move from subsidy-driven spending to strategic purchasing, fostering more sustainable medicine systems.
Critical Financing Flows and Policy Recommendations
Okulaja identified three essential financing flows for self-sufficiency: insurance and risk-pooling systems that convert need into demand; affordable credit for pharmacy networks to support compliance and digitization; and long-term capital for manufacturers to expand production. Without these integrated systems, he cautioned, pharmaceutical security would remain elusive.
He further noted that harmonized drug quality standards could unlock pharmaceutical trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, accessing a market of 1.3 billion people. Okulaja urged governments to integrate private pharmacy networks into national health insurance schemes, prioritize local pharmaceutical manufacturing as a national security concern, and create ring-fenced budgets favoring locally produced medicines. He maintained that West Africa already possesses the infrastructure, workforce, data, and policy tools to end medicine import dependence within a decade, provided leaders take deliberate steps to integrate them.
Stakeholder Perspectives on Resilience and Competitiveness
Ahmed Yakasai, Chairman of the Planning Committee and former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, remarked that the COVID-19 crisis exposed the risks of overdependence on external supply systems. He emphasized that stakeholders gathered not to dwell on past weaknesses but to build globally competitive industries and resilient systems capable of protecting citizens. Yakasai added that the conference also focused on ensuring mothers have access to safe medicines and children can rely on dependable healthcare systems.
Babashehu Ahmed, Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, described efforts to build a resilient and self-reliant pharmaceutical supply chain as timely and essential, given the sector's strategic role in healthcare delivery across West Africa.
Aligning Industry with Government Policies
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, called on the pharmaceutical industry to align with government diagnostic policies. He noted that while the state promotes a "test-before-treat" approach, many pharmacies and patent medicine vendors still lack rapid diagnostic tools. Abayomi urged the industry to embrace diagnostics as the first step in treatment, ensuring patients receive appropriate care beyond the routine use of anti-malarials and antibiotics.
