The problem
Africa faces more health emergencies than any other region and carries a disproportionate burden of postpartum hemorrhage, malaria, and HIV. Home to nearly 1.5 billion people and a quarter of the global disease burden, the continent remains heavily dependent on imported health products despite a growing base of domestic manufacturers. Today, more than 95% of active pharmaceutical ingredients and around 70% of finished medicines are sourced from abroad.Â
This reliance creates serious risks. Supply chain disruptions, trade barriers, and health emergencies can delay or restrict access to essential treatments, driving up costs and leaving patients without the care they need. For people affected by malaria, HIV, or postpartum hemorrhage, this can mean treatment delays, missed doses, or being forced to rely on less effective alternatives – with life-threatening consequences.Â
Our response
The Medicines Supply Resilience (MedSuRe) Africa program is boosting the availability of essential medicines for HIV, malaria, and postpartum hemorrhage by strengthening regional manufacturing of both active pharmaceutical ingredients – the building blocks of medicines – and finished pharmaceutical products.Â
Led by USP and its consortium partners, the program is supporting African pharmaceutical manufacturers to achieve sustainable production and market entry of cost-competitive, quality-assured medicines. MedSuRe is also enabling local production of calibrated drapes, simple but highly effective tools for measuring blood loss during childbirth and helping to prevent maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage. In parallel, Unitaid is providing a complementary US$1.5 million grant to the Medicines Patent Pool to support licensing work that will expand access. Together, our efforts are laying the foundation for a more resilient and sustainable supply of quality-assured medicines across Africa.Â
Our partners
USP is an independent scientific organization that collaborates with the world’s top experts in health and science to develop quality resources and standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. Through our resources, standards, advocacy and education, USP helps increase the availability of quality medicines, supplements and foods for billions of people worldwide.
International consortium of partners:
