Page 7 - LUA September - October 2024

devices, said a United Nations Industrial Clearly, the pandemic has profoundly
Development Organisation (UNIDO) impacted healthcare awareness, spending
spokesperson in a recent interview with and pharmaceutical logistics; this view
Logistics Update Africa. is consistent across the entire pharma
In low-income countries, only 50% of logistics supply chain. In fact, "The
the population has access to the medicines pandemic has not only heightened
needed for a healthy and productive awareness of healthcare but has also
life. Improving access to medicines and strained resources and led to backlogs due
other health products in developing to lockdowns and pauses in non-COVID-
countries requires key factors such as The continent’s related treatments. As a result, many
adequate health financing and medicines pharmaceutical companies are trying to
procurement, resources and functional growing demand for bring their product closer to the patient
healthcare systems with well-trained staff reliable and efficient (to reduce logistics costs and ensure
and sufficient infrastructure, supportive logistics solutions, product availability),” said Robin Miles,
regulation to facilitate trade and use Vice President of Global Sales Vertical -
of generic medicines, an environment particularly for critical Healthcare, Kuehne+Nagel, in an interview
conducive to research and development pharmaceuticals, with Logistics Update Africa.
and investment (including intellectual presents an
property rights), and local manufacturing CAN AFRICA BE THE NEXT
of healthcare products to create shorter opportunity for Etihad BIG PHARMA HUB?
and more resilient supply chains. Cargo to play a crucial UNIDO emphasises the need for a
Africa's trade agreements with comprehensive approach to support
Europe and North America are aiding role in enhancing Africa's self-sufficiency, including human
healthcare outcomes resource development, regulatory systems
across multiple strengthening, access to affordable capital,
countries. business linkages, technology access, and
sustainable production methods. Despite
GRANT KEMP the opportunities presented by the African
ETIHAD CARGO
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),
challenges in the pharmaceutical industry
its move towards pharmaceutical persist, such as inadequate distribution
self-sufficiency, but the COVID-19 and markets, limited competitiveness, lack
pandemic revealed vulnerabilities of standardised regulations, transportation
in the continent's pharmaceutical and logistics issues, and counterfeit
supply chains. Strengthening product dumping.
infrastructure and logistics is UNIDO supports African countries
crucial for Africa's pharmaceutical by deploying a three-level approach to
manufacturing capabilities. health industry development, focusing on
UNIDO emphasises the need to coordination, regulation, and production.
boost local production for equitable The organisation supports establishing
access to essential health products. and adapting industrial parks and clusters,
The pandemic has significantly attracting investment opportunities and
impacted healthcare awareness, technology transfer. Ethiopia's Industrial
spending, and pharmaceutical Parks Development Programme is a good
logistics, leading to efforts to bring example, aiming to attract foreign direct
pharmaceutical products closer to investment and promote job creation in
the patient to reduce logistics costs manufacturing industries, including the
and ensure availability. pharmaceutical sector.
UNIDO also contributes to
harmonising standards, strengthening
laboratories' capacities, and enhancing the

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