Chinese Pharma Firms Boost African Healthcare: A Lifeline for Ethiopia and Beyond
In Addis Ababa’s Lancet General Hospital, a nurse expertly administers a saline drip, a common sight in a facility where dedicated staff provide vital care despite challenging circumstances. Ethiopia,like many East African nations,has long grappled with critical medicine shortages,particularly high-volume infusions,due to limited domestic pharmaceutical production. This scarcity leaves the entire African continent vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases like malaria, cholera, and smallpox.
Though, a critically important shift is underway. A growing number of Chinese pharmaceutical companies are establishing manufacturing facilities across Africa, bolstering local medicine production and strengthening healthcare independence. This influx of investment is proving to be a game-changer for nations struggling with limited access to essential medications.
Made in Africa: A New Era of Pharmaceutical Production
Sansheng Pharmaceutical, a Chinese company, opened a factory in Ethiopia in 2018. This facility produces an estimated 10 million intravenous bags, 300 million injection vials, and 5 billion solid tablets annually, dramatically reducing Ethiopia’s reliance on imported medicines. Jiang Zhiwen, general manager of Sansheng Ethiopia Pharmaceutical, told Xinhua, “The factory, located in the Eastern Industrial Zone outside Addis Ababa, primarily manufactures essential medicines in various forms, including tablets, capsules, large-volume infusions, and injectables.”
Kassahun Alemu, the company’s technical director, highlighted the impact: “Previously, the country imported a significant percentage of large-volume parenterals, while current national demand is fully covered by local producers, mostly by Sansheng.” Jiang added, “The company produces medicines that Ethiopians really need. Previously, most of these medicines had to be imported, but now there is no need to source abroad. This not only saves foreign exchange reserves for the country, but also gradually helps Ethiopia develop its basic industries.”
Sansheng’s success is part of a broader trend. Humanwell africa Pharmaceutical, another Chinese company, established a factory in Bamako, Mali, in 2015, becoming the first drug factory in Mali and a model for modern pharmaceutical production in West Africa. Former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita praised the initiative, stating, “Humanwell puts an end to the story that Mali cannot make medicines, and it will benefit Malians.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, BGI Genomics established diagnostic reagent factories in several African countries, including Ethiopia, Togo, Angola, Gabon, and Botswana, and set up laboratories to support COVID-19 testing. More recently, in October, jijia International Medical Technology signed a memorandum of understanding with the Zambia Industrial Advancement Corporation to build an oral cholera vaccine factory. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema declared this agreement would make Zambia the first African country to manufacture cholera vaccines.
These initiatives represent a significant step towards improving healthcare access and self-sufficiency across Africa, offering hope for a healthier future for millions.
china-Africa Partnership Revolutionizes Vaccine Production, Improves Healthcare
A significant collaboration between China and African nations is transforming healthcare access and vaccine manufacturing across the continent. This partnership, highlighted at the 2024 china-Africa Cooperation Forum, promises to save lives, boost productivity, and foster economic growth in participating countries. One key initiative focuses on bolstering local medicine production capacity through increased Chinese investment.
This commitment is already yielding tangible results. Fosun Pharma, a leading Chinese pharmaceutical company, has commenced construction of its first African industrial park near Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Su Li, Fosun Pharma’s vice president, anticipates the park will produce “5 billion tablets per year” once fully operational, benefiting the entire West African region. He further noted that the completed park will create “nearly 1,000 employment opportunities” in the Grand-Bassam area.
The impact extends beyond production. Chinese pharmaceutical companies, including Fosun and Sansheng, are actively investing in training programs, scholarships, and internships for African healthcare workers and pharmacy students. This initiative aims to cultivate a skilled local workforce capable of sustaining the continent’s burgeoning pharmaceutical industry.
In August 2024, another significant step was taken when Africa Bio Chem signed an agreement with the Tanzanian government of Zanzibar to establish a biovaccine production base and manufacture advanced medicines. Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi expressed gratitude, stating, “The Chinese have brought a lot of medicines, they have trained our people, they have developed the capacity of our people, so we are very grateful for that, and we hope to continue this cooperation.”
Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), emphasized the crucial role of local manufacturing in achieving Africa’s health objectives. “We have to make sure that Africans can start manufacturing their vaccines and medicines thanks to the support we are receiving from China,” Kaseya said in an interview with Xinhua. He highlighted the partnership’s enhancement of the Africa CDC’s ability to meet its priorities.
Jean-Marc Bouchez, president executive of Tridem Pharma (a Fosun Pharma subsidiary), underscored the shared vision driving this collaboration: “My vision for Africa is that Africans have to take the reins of their development. They need technical support…The idea is to strengthen and reinforce local capabilities,” he declared. He added, “Chinese pharmaceutical companies share this vision of ‘producing in Africa, for Africa.'”
This initiative represents a significant step towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure and promoting self-sufficiency in Africa, offering a model for future international collaborations focused on sustainable development and global health security.
