Prof. David Houeto, Professor of Health Promotion at the Université de Parakou, has called on West African countries to develop local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity to produce essential medicines for the region.
Houeto made the appeal in an interview with reporters on Monday in Abuja, stressing that the region’s heavy reliance on imported medicines threatens health security and development.
“If we truly want development, we need healthy manpower. Our governments must act now to build strong and healthy nations,” he said.
He noted that countries such as Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Benin are capable of producing medicines individually or forming a regional consortium to achieve self-sufficiency. “We have the opportunity to change the situation in West Africa. It is a must, and we can,” Houeto added.
Houeto highlighted existing initiatives, including the African Union’s Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA) and the African Medicines Agency (AMA), aimed at boosting local production of medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). He warned, however, that infrastructure gaps and limited human capacity have hindered progress, stressing that careful planning and regional cooperation are essential to overcome these challenges.
He also emphasized the need to train local experts and incentivize West African professionals abroad to return, contributing to the growth of the pharmaceutical sector. According to Houeto, local production would also strengthen public trust in medicines, reducing skepticism and misinformation during epidemics and pandemics.
“We cannot achieve health security without owning our medicines. Local production will reinforce trust between governments and communities,” he said.
Houeto called on West African nations, under the leadership of Africa CDC, to pool resources, invest in pharmaceutical infrastructure, and take bold steps toward regional self-sufficiency in essential medicines.
It was reported that over 70% of medicines consumed in West Africa are imported, mainly from Asia, while more than 95% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are also sourced abroad.
