By Girmachew Gashaw
Pharmaceutical excipients are no longer inert materials but are effective and able to improve the characteristics of the products' quality, stability, functionality, safety, solubility and acceptance of patients. It can interact with the active ingredients and alter the medicament characteristics. The globalization of medicines' supply enhances the importance of globalized good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements for pharmaceutical excipients.
Understanding the expansion of pharmaceutical manufacturing to ensure access to medicine, Ethiopia launched an ambitious 10-year national strategy and plan of action to develop local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in order to increase access to locally manufactured and quality-assured medicines.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the European Union Commission and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, provided technical assistance to the Government of Ethiopia in the development of this strategy, the first of its kind in the country.
As part of the flagship programme of the Growth and Transformation Plan, Ethiopia has launched a decade-long awaited National Strategy and Plan of Action for Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Development.
Presenting an overview of the National Strategy and Plan of Action for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development in Ethiopia (2015-2025) at the programme, Prof. Tsige Gebre-Mariam of Addis Ababa University School of Pharmacy, pointed out the seven key objectives of this ambitious plan.
The Strategy and Plan of Action aims to: improve access to medicines through quality local production - implementing GMP road map, Strengthen the national medicines regulatory system, create incentives designed to move companies along the value chain, develop human resources through relevant education and training, encourage cluster development and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), create a research and development platform, attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the pharmaceutical sector.
As said by Dr. Kesetebirhan Admasu, Minister of Health, "The new strategic plan will not only improve access to essential medicine but it will also contribute to the effort geared towards building a knowledge economy, harnessing research and development... ., exerting a positive pressure on the country's educational system."
Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen was the guest honour on the occasion. He explained that during the first GTP period, the Ethiopia Government has taken a number of steps to support, promote and develop the pharmaceutical industry which has paid off in improving production capacity of the local manufacturers.
The government shall continue its support through the provision of better but more coordinated and result-oriented incentives to increase the number of international researchers and manufactures with full requirements of the industries existing in the contemporary world as well as appreciating locally available knowledge and practice of traditional medicine, Demeke indicated.
According to him, the aim of the national strategy and plan of action is to transform nation's pharmaceutical manufacturing sector to internationally accredited, research based and competitive economic sector that supplies major share of the domestic demand and improve public access to essential medicines.
"This national strategy and plan of action will also contribute significantly to the country's economic growth and social development. Not only is the sector instrumental in improving access to essential medicines to ensure universal health coverage by the people but it would also help the nation earn hard currency through exporting attractive foreign trade investment, job creation, advancement in research and human resource specialization as well as development," the Deputy Primer stated.
"This national strategy and plan of action will contribute significantly to the country's economic growth and social development," said the Deputy Premier and called on all partners present and beyond to strengthen partnerships to support Ethiopia's effort to significantly reduce poverty and become a middle income country by 2025.
Ethiopia's increased investment in the health sector in recent years has resulted in an impressive 95 per cent potential health coverage. The health indicators have remarkably improved towards achieving the health-related MDGs.
At the event Dr. Mustapha Kaloko, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, presented the African Union Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan of Action for Africa, which envisions an "African people with access to essential, quality, safe and effective medical products and technologies," he said.
In her amazing keynote address, United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Margrate Chan on her part said that WHO has been seeing ways and means to make sure that essential medicines of the quality and the price that people can afford. She further said that promoting pharmaceutical industries development in developing countries is not an easy task. "Access to medicines is an integral component of universal health coverage," said WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan. Dr. Chan also invited all development partners to join WHO in supporting the implementation of this strategic action plan over the next 10 years.
"We really need innovative solutions to make a big jump. Such an effort requires courage, vision and strong political commitment. We really need innovative solutions to make a big jump, as Ethiopia has shown us at present. This strategy is important for Ethiopia to garner the benefits of modern technology but I have to convey the message that this strategy should be implemented in the continent under the umbrella of the African Union Pharmaceutical Plan for Action.
Ethiopia is the first country in Africa that makes this move a reality. "I expect to see other inspiring countries in Africa to improve their pharmaceutical industry to ameliorate access to make pharmaceutical product affordable and the quality that they deserve to have. The the implementation of this strategy requires huge amount of money to be well implemented."
Africa Union Commission Commissioner Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said, "This initiative is not only a hope for Ethiopians but for Africans and I think it is the issue of the centre of excellence when it comes to pharmaceutical manufacturing in the continent because we cannot have 54 centre of excellence. The African Union Commission will support in whatever way. And as Africa has integrated its market at regional and continental level, it is really great to take this imitative. The Ethiopian Government needs to be recognized for launching this strategy, which is a translation of the African Union Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa at country level. It is also important to share experiences with others in the continent," she added.
If implemented from a value chain perspective, and with commitment to ensure sustainability - by making the required investments and forging strategic partnerships - it could transform the pharmaceutical sector in the country over the next 10 years, and inspire change in Africa.
Source: Allafrica
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