Scientists are seeking to manufacture key medications in South Africa, saving on costs and shoring up decreased supplies.
“We have done a huge amount of research into new ways of manufacturing generic life-saving medications in South Africa, specifically for Aids, tuberculosis, malaria, cancer and influenza,” says Professor Paul Watts, holder of the SARChI Chair in Microfluidic Bio/Chemical Processing at Nelson Mandela University.
The majority of South Africa’s APIs are imported from India or China, and India also heavily relies on China for raw materials to make their medicines. Many drug ingredient makers in China remain shut or have cut their output. This is a huge problem, not only for us, but for all countries worldwide. The US Food and Drug Administration has expressed the same concern that the coronavirus pandemic will undoubtedly lead to shortages of certain critical drugs.
The local manufacture of key generic drugs for major diseases in South Africa and Africa could ensure that more people have access to the drugs. It could also save billions of rands, create jobs and establish a new manufacturing industry. Local manufacture would also mean the quality of the APIs is assured, which is currently not the case in all countries in Africa.
South Africa would not be able to supply the country’s total drug demand for the diseases mentioned, but it could certainly start making up the shortages and build from there. The coronavirus pandemic further demonstrates the importance of local manufacturing to be able to respond to national and global health crises.’s national equipment programme contributed R2 229 000.00 for the flow reactor required to create the drugs.
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