By: Modupe Adeniyi. Freelance Health Reporter.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2024. The Rwandan government has announced a significant boost to its pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, thanks to a new €40 million (approximately Rwf60 billion) grant from the European Union. This investment aims to enhance local manufacturing capabilities and improve access to high-quality, affordable health products across the country and region.
The funding announcement came during the East Africa Pharma & Biotech Conference 2024 in Kigali, highlighting the growing importance of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the region. This initiative is part of the broader Team Europe effort to boost manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa (MAV+).
Belén Calvo Uyarra, the EU Ambassador to Rwanda, outlined four key areas that the grant will support:
Pharmaceutical research and development
Skills development, including higher education and vocational training (TVET)
Entrepreneurship and supply chain enhancement
Regulatory strengthening
The investment comes at a crucial time for East Africa as the region faces an increasing demand for medical products due to population growth and a rising disease burden. Currently, East African countries heavily rely on imported pharmaceuticals which limits access to essential health products.
Yvan Butera, Rwanda's Minister of State for Health, emphasized the government's commitment to establishing a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub. This initiative aims to improve access to medical products both within Rwanda and across Africa.
The EU and its member states have been instrumental in developing Rwanda's local pharmaceutical manufacturing and research ecosystem. The new projects will be implemented by various European agencies, including, Expertise France, Sweden, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Enabel. These organizations will work closely with Rwandan counterparts and other Team Europe actors to ensure the successful implementation of the projects.
East African countries are increasingly recognizing the potential of pharmaceutical and biotechnological manufacturing for both public health and economic growth. The region boasts an aggregate market size of over $4 billion, providing ample opportunity for competitive industry operations.
Moreover, companies in the region are well-positioned to tap into the broader African pharmaceutical market, estimated at $20 billion. To capitalize on this potential, countries are focusing on creating supportive ecosystems through workforce development, regulatory strengthening, entrepreneurship promoting and infrastructure development
This latest investment from the EU reinforces Rwanda's position as an emerging hub for pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovation in East Africa. As these initiatives take root, they promise to improve health outcomes, create jobs, and drive sustainable economic growth across the region.
Source: The New Times
Published: SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
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