AfDB, ECOWAS Commission support development of pharmaceutical industries in West Africa

The African Development Bank and the Economic Community of West African States Commission on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding for $3.56 million in funding to support the development of pharmaceutical industries in West Africa, according to a statement issued by the bank.

The bank said the funds will support the implementation of regulations to allow duty-free access to pharmaceutical raw materials, packaging and finished products under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff. It will also help establish an effective regional pharmaceutical regulatory ecosystem by providing technical assistance programs for regional regulatory authorities.

During the signing ceremony held in Abuja, Nigeria, the bank's director-general for Nigeria Lamin Barrow said: "The COVID-19 crisis has further exposed the fragility of our national healthcare systems and posed significant disruptions to global health and pharmaceutical supply chains. This underscores the urgency of accelerating efforts to ensure a minimum level of supply of health products."

Mamadou Traore, ECOWAS commissioner in charge of industry and the private sector, said local production of pharmaceuticals and biologicals has become an imperative and a regional priority, as is the provision of healthcare delivery services.

The project is expected to enhance the pharmaceutical industry's competitiveness through improved quality and product standards and help ensure the region complies with best practices in manufacturing pharmaceutical products and supplies.

It will also strengthen regional training institutions and laboratories to ensure the required skills are available to support the industry's regional growth in a gender-sensitive and environmentally friendly manner.