Othoman Mellouk, Co-founder of ITPC MENA and Access to Treatment and Intellectual Property Program Lead at ITPC was on a panel at the Global Pharma Africa Meeting, 6 February 2025 in Marrakech. Held annually, the meeting aims to bring together experts from different perspectives to discuss challenges and opportunities for pharmaceutical production in Africa with a vision of self sustainability of the continent and ensure health sovereignity.
The African pharmaceutical market is on the rise, with its value soaring to $25 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $34 billion by 2027. With a growing population set to hit 2.5 billion by 2050—25% of the global total—Africa’s demand for essential medicines and vaccines has never been greater. Yet, the continent remains highly dependent on imports, especially from Asian manufacturers, for critical pharmaceutical supplies.
This reliance is particularly evident in the fight against endemic diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. While global health initiatives such as the Global Fund, PEPFAR, GAVI, CHAI etc. have significantly expanded access to life-saving medicines, they have also consolidated the market around a few dominant international manufacturers. This leaves African producers struggling to compete due to high volume demands, stringent WHO prequalification processes, and razor-thin margins.
The Role of Intellectual Property in Africa’s Pharma Journey
One of the biggest hurdles for African pharmaceutical manufacturers is the current intellectual property (IP) landscape. Patent protections often prevent local manufacturers from producing newer, patented drugs, limiting their operations to low-value off-patent medicines. Mechanisms like voluntary licensing further reinforce this disparity, as they primarily favor large Asian generic manufacturers.
To truly empower Africa’s pharmaceutical industry and address its healthcare needs sustainably, reforming the IP framework is critical.
The Path to Reform: Solutions for Local Production and Public Health
Here are key reforms that could change the game:
- Strict patent examinations: Governments must ensure patents are only granted for genuine innovations, avoiding artificial extensions through minor modifications.
- Leverage TRIPS flexibilities: African nations should fully utilize provisions in the TRIPS agreement, such as compulsory licensing, to produce generic versions of essential patented health products. Eliminating TRIPS+ provisions, like data exclusivity, could further enhance local production capacity.
- Incorporate IP strategies into local manufacturing plans: Strengthening the local production must go hand-in-hand with a reimagined IP framework that prioritizes public health over monopolies.
The time to act is now. The framework governing intellectual property will shape Africa’s ability to produce high-value essential medicines and vaccines. Policymakers, industry leaders, and public health advocates must unite to champion reforms that give African manufacturers the tools they need to succeed.
By integrating robust IP strategies into local manufacturing plans, Africa can take control of its pharmaceutical future, reduce dependency on imports, and respond effectively to the health needs of its people.
The question is: will we seize this moment to transform Africa’s pharmaceutical landscape?
