South African Physician Professor Jimmy Volmink says the country urgently needs to produce its own locally manufactured pharmaceuticals, as importing medicine is getting expensive.
Volmink was the Keynote Speaker at a Global Health Public Institution Lecture held at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
Professor Volmink says the continent has already made steps in dealing with public health issues through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This framework rests on five key pillars – first, strong public health institutions, supporting continental bodies such as the Africa CDC and Africa’s medicine agency. Secondly, expanding the manufacturing of vaccines through collaboration, ensuring that global partners commit to sourcing at least 30% of vaccines from Africa.”
