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By Doris Obinna
Healthcare leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders have called for urgent reforms to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains and reduce import dependence in West Africa, following the communique of the Pharma West Africa Conference 2026 held in Lagos.
The three-day conference, which took place from April 14 to 16 in Lagos focused on the theme “Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Strengthening for Self-Sufficiency in West Africa.” Participants drawn from across the healthcare value chain examined systemic challenges in the region’s pharmaceutical sector and outlined pathways to achieving health sovereignty.
Declaring the conference open, former Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, emphasised the growing urgency for countries in the region to build resilient health systems in the wake of recent global disruptions. Speakers noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain shocks had exposed the risks of overreliance on imports, underscoring the need for local capacity development.
The communique signed by the Chairman, Pharma West Africa Conference Planning Committee, Ahmed Yakasai, highlighted that Nigeria currently imports between 50 and 70 per cent of its finished pharmaceutical products and nearly all its active pharmaceutical ingredients, while Africa as a whole imports about 80 per cent of its pharmaceutical needs.
Despite this dependence, local manufacturers are operating below installed capacity, a situation attributed to structural inefficiencies and weak collaboration across the sector. Participants stressed that with a population exceeding 400 million in the ECOWAS region, demand for affordable, high-quality medicines continues to grow, making regional cooperation unavoidable.
They identified fragmented regulatory systems as a major barrier to efficient trade and timely access to medicines, noting that only a small number of West African countries have achieved the World Health Organization’s maturity level three for regulatory systems.
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The conference also examined weaknesses in pharmaceutical supply chains, pointing to poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity supply for cold chain management, insecurity, and limited reach in rural areas. Experts warned that without efficient distribution systems, gains in manufacturing would not translate into improved access to medicines.
Attention was also drawn to the role of community pharmacies and patent medicine vendors, which serve as the first point of care for a majority of Nigerians. However, participants observed that data generated at these points are largely excluded from national health information systems, resulting in significant gaps in healthcare planning and reporting.
Technology emerged as a key enabler in strengthening health systems, with stakeholders calling for wider adoption of digital solutions such as e-pharmacy platforms and interoperable health data systems. While acknowledging recent policy efforts, participants argued that implementation remains weak and coverage insufficient.
To address these challenges, the conference proposed a series of measures, including expanding financial support for manufacturers and distributors, establishing regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs, and offering fiscal incentives such as tax breaks and import duty waivers.
Stakeholders also recommended de-risking investments through guarantee schemes and encouraging impact investment in the sector. Other key recommendations included formally integrating community pharmacies into national health systems, strengthening regulatory agencies to meet international standards, and accelerating the ECOWAS Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation initiative.
Yakasai while highlighting a shared commitment to building a self-sufficient pharmaceutical sector through local innovation, collaboration, and sustained investment, concluded that implementing these recommendations would boost access to medicines, strengthen health systems, and move West Africa toward pharmaceutical independence.
