ADDIS ABABA, 21 January 2013 – In an effort to further develop and strengthen local production of pharmaceutical produce in Africa, three African regional associations of African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers have come together to establish the Federation of African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (FAPMA), which will ultimately form an umbrella organization representing the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in Africa.
Founding members include the three main African regional associations: the West African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (WAPMA), the Federation of East African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (FEAPM) and the Southern African Generic Medicines Association (SAGMA).
At the occasion of the Launch of FAPMA, two key note addresses will be followed by panel discussions on “Strengthening local production in Africa”. The first panel will debate the Private Sector’s response to the challenges and opportunities facing Africa’s pharmaceutical industry while the second panel will shed light on how the private sector could, and should organize itself to respond to the challenges and opportunities.
The vision of FAPMA is a vibrant and self-sustaining pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Africa that contributes both to the reduction of disease burden and that drives economic development of the continent.
To achieve this, FAPMA will facilitate collaboration between regional pharmaceutical manufacturing associations to address common challenges faced by the industry and thus enhance opportunities towards self-sufficiency. This will be achieved through advocacy and partnership with other stakeholders in promoting the production of quality, affordable medicines.
The need to form a Pan-African Federation to give the private sector a voice especially in the process of implementing the African Union Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA) – Business Plan was first recognized at a UNIDO/BMZ/GIZ/UNCTAD Conference on Pharmaceutical Production in Africa in Cape Town in April 2011. Since then, UNIDO and other international partners have been supporting efforts to set-up the Federation.
The Launch will take place on Friday, 25 January 2013 at 14:00 at the Harmony Hotel in Addis Ababa. Journalists and interested individuals are invited to attend the Launch from 14:00 to 18:00, and the subsequent cocktail reception. Please indicate your interest in attending the events by sending an e-mail to Ms. Moyo at sagma@sagma.net
Ms. Tsungi Moyo
FAPMA Secretariat
Phone: +27-12-394-5546
E-mail: sagma@sagma.net