Africa needs an enabling environment for vaccine, diagnostics & therapeutics development

Africa has been striving to advocate for health research and development to address critical gaps in capacity, financing, and policy that hinder progress in building a self-reliant health ecosystem. In a recent interview with Maureen Awuor, Program Manager for Health Research Development & Innovation at AMREF Health Africa, the discussion shed light on the challenges faced by Africa in developing its own health products, balancing capital expenditures and operational expenditures, and the shift towards partnerships over aid reliance in research. The conversation emphasized the need for an enabling environment for vaccine, diagnostics, and therapeutics development in Africa. Maureen highlighted the importance of advocacy for health research and development, emphasizing the need for increased investment across the continent. She also stressed the significance of building capacity for Africa to conduct its own research and development, as well as creating an enabling environment for introducing new health products to the market. The focus of advocacy extends to the end-to-end research and development of essential products such as vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The interview delved into the progress Africa has made in manufacturing its own health products. Maureen acknowledged that while strides have been made, there is still progress to be made, especially in the context of COVID-19 pushing towards more self-reliance in manufacturing within the region. The shift from individual countries aspiring to manufacture products to a collaborative regional effort reflects the growing recognition of the need for mutual support and leveraging strengths across different African nations. Financial constraints play a significant role in product development and research in Africa. Maureen emphasized the importance of holding governments accountable for the allocation of funds towards health research and development. While aiming to meet the Abuja Declaration allocations, which call for earmarking 15% of government spending for health, many countries, including Kenya, are still below the target. The focus is now on maximizing the efficiency of existing funding to ensure it directly contributes to research and development efforts. When discussing investments and partnerships in healthcare, Maureen highlighted the impact of funding freezes from institutions like USAID and PEPFAR on Africa. The conversation emphasized the need for Africa to pivot towards internal collaboration and industrial policies that promote self-sustainability. The shift towards partnerships over aid reliance signals a strategic move towards fostering intra-African cooperation and developing robust health infrastructures. In conclusion, while the challenges facing Africa's health ecosystem are substantial, there is a glimmer of hope in leveraging the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has catalyzed innovation and collaboration in research and development, prompting Africa to reassess its reliance on external funding and prioritize self-reliance. While the road ahead may be daunting, the resilience and determination of African nations to build a self-reliant health ecosystem are evident, pointing towards a promising future for healthcare on the continent.