Africa must prioritize self-reliance in pharmaceuticals by strengthening local medicine production that meets global quality standards, urged Dr. Owen Laws Kaluwa, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, during a keynote address at a regional training workshop on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in Addis Ababa. He stressed that Africa’s continued dependence on imported medicines poses major health security risks, especially during global supply chain disruptions, making local production both a health and economic imperative.
The two-day hands-on workshop, held from 22–23 July 2025, brought together 26 participants from National Regulatory Authorities and pharmaceutical manufacturers across seven East African Community member states. It was jointly organized by WHO’s Local Production and Assistance Unit, the WHO Regional Office for Africa, and the WHO Country Office in Ethiopia, with financial support from The Global Fund. The training was designed to strengthen technical capacity in GMP compliance and promote collaboration between regulators and manufacturers.
Participants engaged in a mix of instructional sessions and case-based learning, covering topics such as Quality Management Systems, Risk Management, Corrective and Preventive Actions, data integrity, validation practices, and the management of key utility systems like water and HVAC. The workshop aimed to build practical skills for applying current WHO GMP standards while reinforcing the shared responsibility of industry and regulatory bodies in ensuring quality-assured pharmaceutical production.
Dr. Jicui Dong, Head of WHO’s Local Production and Assistance Unit, highlighted the importance of combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience for effective GMP compliance. He praised the commitment of pharmaceutical manufacturers in the region to invest in workforce development and advance local production.
Mr. Dejene Daba, Head of the Medicine Manufacturers Inspection and Enforcement Desk at the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s dedication to supporting local manufacturers and achieving WHO Maturity Level 3 regulatory status—a key global benchmark for regulatory strength.
By fostering regional capabilities and aligning with African Union and Africa CDC priorities, the workshop marked an important step in advancing Africa’s long-term goal of reducing dependency on imports and building resilient, high-quality pharmaceutical manufacturing systems across the continent.
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