The recently created African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (APTF) will be introduced on Thursday in Kigali, Rwanda, according to a statement from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its partners.
The APTF will be introduced during a forum held at the 2nd International Conference on Public Health in Africa which runs from December 12 to 15.
The creation of the APTF was approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors in June of this year in order to increase the continent’s access to technology for the production of drugs, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical goods.
AfDB’s partners include, the Government of Rwanda; World Health Organisation; African Development Bank; Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Initiative; Global Access in Action; German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; The South Centre and other partners.
The forum entitled, “Technology Access for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation”, will feature discussion of existing barriers to accessing technology in Africa’s pharmaceutical sector.
It will also put an emphasis on cutting-edge strategies that support sustainable pharmaceutical production in Africa by incorporating partnerships, intellectual property, and the development of local capability.
A panel discussion on improving technology access and knowledge transfer for domestic manufacturing in Africa will also be part of the summit. Experts from the World Health Organisation, Rwandan government departments, and other stakeholders will participate in the panel.
With a limited ability to generate its own medicines and vaccines and a continent that is plagued by disease, the Foundation represents a crucial step in improving the continent’s health prospects. According to Bank data, Africa spends up to $14 billion yearly on the importation of more than 70% of its required drugs.
Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation; Prof. Padmashree Gehl Sampath, Special Advisor to Dr. Adesina on Pharmaceuticals and Health; Nnenna Nwabufo, Director General for East Africa; and Aissa Toure Sarr, the Country Manager for Rwanda are among a delegation of senior AfDB officials who will attend the breakfast forum.
A panel discussion on improving technology access and knowledge transfer for domestic manufacturing in Africa will also be part of the summit. Experts from the World Health Organisation, Rwandan government departments, and other stakeholders will participate in the panel.