Southern Africa partners with China and UNAIDS to boost local medicine production

UNAIDS, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and China have launched a strategic initiative to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing within Southern Africa. The collaboration aims to reduce the region's dependence on imported medicines and external supply chains by strengthening local production of essential health products, including medicines, diagnostics, and health technologies.

A five-day strategic exchange held from August 31 to September 4 in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town brought together the governments of South Africa and China, Chinese pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and health experts. The Global Health Innovation Institute (GHII) is playing a key role in connecting African and Chinese industry and innovation partners.

Drawing on lessons from the global HIV response, the initiative focuses on building reliable supply chains, technology transfer, financing, and regulatory systems. Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNAIDS Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, stated that the effort is about ensuring African countries have “greater control over the health products their people depend on” and building the necessary systems for long-term health security.