African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation receives strong at AfDB
African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation receives strong endorsement at AfDB Annual Meetings in Sharm El-Sheikh.
During a presentation on the first day of the 2023 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank in Sharm El-Sheikh, Professor Padmashree Gehl Sampath, the African Development Bank Senior Advisor on pharmaceuticals and health, shared the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation’s (APTF) objective to further the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in Africa. The APTF aims to enhance regional pharmaceutical production and innovation capabilities and improve health policies and regional health security. Gehl Sampath highlighted that the APTF, an independent institution, would increase Africa’s access to technologies for manufacturing pharmaceutical products such as medicines and vaccines.
African Development Bank President Adesina founded the APTF after the Covid-19 pandemic exposed vaccine shortages in Africa, realizing the need to improve the continent’s preparedness. The APTF aspires to contribute fairly to the global response against pandemics and epidemics, reflecting a cooperative and inclusive approach.
In their contributions, panelists expressed strong support for the Foundation. The panel included Egypt’s minister for International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Germany’s governor to the African Development Bank and parliamentary state secretary, Dr Bärbel Kofler, senior advisor on pharmaceuticals and health, Professor Padmashree Gehl Sampath, African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases director, Professor Christian Happi, and acting managing director of European Investment Bank Global, Dr Markus Berndt.
Minister Al-Mashat noted that health security was “as important as food security.” Dr Kofler said it was essential to learn from past mistakes and prepare for the inevitable. Professor Happi argued that research and development should be integrated into the African thinking process. Dr Berndt commended the African Development Bank for setting up the APTF and said long-term health security was key to economic growth.
President Adesina underscored the stark realities revealed by the Covid-19 pandemic in his welcome remarks. He highlighted the inequality in vaccine access and pledged that the APTF represented a collective commitment towards self-sufficiency in the pharmaceutical sector.
The five-day Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank began on Monday, 22 May 2023, under the theme “Mobilizing Private Sector Financing for Climate and Green Growth in Africa.” The event brings together delegations from 81 member countries.
Source: dailynewsegypt.com
