By Danjuma Amodu
Southern Africa is making a major push to cut dependence on imported medicines as UNAIDS, the Southern African Development Community and China launch a strategic initiative to expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing across the region.
The five-day SADC-China exchange, running from August 31 to September 4 in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, aims to translate Africa–China cooperation into real investment in medicines, diagnostics and health technologies produced on the continent.
The initiative brings together the Governments of South Africa and China, Chinese pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, financial and development partners, and health experts to build stronger supply chains and industrial capacity.
UNAIDS is leading sustained engagement on the programme, with the Global Health Innovation Institute (GHII) linking African and Chinese industry and innovation partners.
Drawing lessons from the global HIV response, organisers say reliable supply chains, technology, financing, regulatory systems and local capacity are critical to keeping lifesaving medicines accessible.
UNAIDS Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Anne Githuku-Shongwe, said the effort goes beyond production.
“Strengthening pharmaceutical manufacturing is about much more than producing medicines. It is about African countries having greater control over the health products their people depend on, including for HIV, while building the skills, investment, technology and systems needed for long-term health security,” she said.
SADC Secretariat representative Dr. Lamboly Kumboneki said local manufacturing is now fundamental to health security.
“Health security requires the capacity to produce. Our partnership with China can help connect African manufacturing capability with the investment, technology and skills needed to strengthen regional pharmaceutical production,” Kumboneki said.
A key focus of the exchange is how China’s pharmaceutical industry can provide investment, manufacturing expertise, technology transfer and innovation. Discussions are also covering investment flows, market intelligence, regulatory preparedness, pooled procurement and health commodity security.
The programme includes high-level policy talks with governments and regulators, meetings with financing institutions, and visits to pharmaceutical manufacturing and research facilities in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
GHII Head of Business Development and Innovation, Gary Yang, said China’s healthcare sector is looking outward.
“China’s healthcare industry has grown and matured significantly over the last few decades, and companies are looking for opportunities globally. Africa is the market of the future,” Yang said.
He added that engagement with South African companies and policymakers shows strong willingness to build partnerships that expand access to health products.
The push reflects a broader shift from relying on global suppliers to building Africa’s own capacity to produce essential health products. Partners say lessons from the HIV response on government, industry and donor collaboration will now be applied to a wider range of medicines.
By the end of the exchange, partners are expected to identify priority investment opportunities and next steps to expand regional manufacturing and secure health commodity supplies.
The initiative could ultimately position Southern Africa as a stronger base for medicines and health technologies, while deepening health and economic cooperation between Africa and China.
