NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto has called for urgent action to transform Africa’s health systems and pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, saying the continent must reduce its heavy reliance on imported medical supplies.
Speaking during the official launch of the Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030) in Nairobi, Ruto said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep structural weaknesses in Africa’s health supply chains.
“Africa was last in line. We must never allow that to happen again,” he said.
Africa’s health production gap
Ruto highlighted stark disparities in global health production, noting that Africa bears nearly a quarter of the world’s disease burden but produces only a small fraction of its medical needs.
He said the continent produces less than 6 per cent of its medical supplies, about one-third of its pharmaceutical demand, and just 1 per cent of the vaccines it consumes.
“This is more than a health gap. It is a structural vulnerability,” he said.
The President also pointed out that Africa’s pharmaceutical spending stands at about $25 per capita compared to a global average of more than $160.
He warned that fragmented regulatory systems, weak infrastructure, limited market integration, and skills gaps continue to deter large-scale investment in the sector.
AIM2030 initiative
The Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030) is a continent-wide programme aimed at expanding access to medical products, strengthening health systems, and boosting local pharmaceutical production.
Ruto said the initiative is designed not only as a health intervention but also as an industrialisation strategy.
“AIM2030 is not a declaration. It is a delivery platform,” he said.
The programme aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and targets increasing local production of health products to at least 60 per cent by 2040.
Push for continental coordination
Ruto called for full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock a market of about 1.6 billion people and improve scale in manufacturing.
He also urged acceleration of the African Medicines Agency to harmonise regulation and strengthen trust in locally produced pharmaceuticals.
“No single country can resolve this challenge alone. We must act as one continent,” he said.
Kenya’s role
The President said Kenya is positioning itself as a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical supply chains, citing its logistics infrastructure, skilled workforce, and stable investment environment.
He noted ongoing efforts to strengthen Kenya’s National Regulatory Authority to meet World Health Organisation standards for quality assurance in pharmaceutical production.
Ruto also appealed to development partners and the private sector to invest in Africa’s health manufacturing sector, describing it as a rapidly expanding market.
“Africa has the science. Africa has the workforce. Africa has the market. And Africa has the will,” he said.
The AIM2030 launch brought together African Union officials, development partners, and private sector stakeholders, marking a coordinated push to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported medical products and strengthen health sovereignty.
