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The topic of local production of medical products in Africa is highly debated.

Some believe it holds the key to unlocking Africa's potential, while others argue that the continent lacks the necessary goodwill and market consolidation for such a venture to be sustainable.

In this podcast episode, we delve into this critical issue with insights from a professional deeply passionate about the African pharmaceutical industry. Ms. Kirti is a seasoned executive with over 26 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, encompassing medicines, medical devices, and consumer products. She has held board positions in several prominent organizations with Pan-African interests and has been actively involved in various strategic initiatives across Africa. These include the African Regional Business Network (WEF Africa), Medical Devices Master Plan for South Africa, the Market Design & Demand Intelligence workstream of the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), and regulatory harmonization in Africa.

Kirti leads research on the establishment and growth of regional healthcare value chains, focusing on local manufacturing capabilities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).In this special episode, we discuss whether Africa should prioritize local manufacturing of medical products and sustainability, challenges facing local production of pharmaceuticals in the continent, manufacturing capacity of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).the role of collaboration and strategies for sustainability.