Know about pharmaceuticals imports in Africa by Region. The imports include both raw materials and finished products, which are estimated to have grown by an average

1. Goldstein
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Market Intelligence
A U G U S T 2 0 2 0
PHARMACEUTICAL
IMPORTS IN AFRICA
Goldstein Market Intelligence
W R I T T E N B Y :
Dennis Abraham
Vice President
Goldstein Market Intelligence

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Market Intelligence
NIGERIA
In 2016 Nigerian imported pharmaceuticals of around USD 405
million worth, majorly from India, Switzerland, China, UK, and
Belgium. The imports include both raw materials and finished
products, which are estimated to have grown by an average of
16.27% since 2012. India & China are
the leading exporters of raw materials to Nigeria,
accounting for 94% of total raw material imports.
Nigeria pharmaceutical need rely primarily on imports
accounting for 98% of their inputs. As per Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of
Nigeria (PMG-MAN), in 2016 domestic capacity utilization
recorded a drop of 20%, with nearly 30% of PMG-MAN
members completely shut down their production.
500
400
300
200
100
221.9
249.5
338.7
300.9
404.8
449.7
Nigeria
Pharmaceutical
Imports (USD
Million), 2012-
2018
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
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ANGOLA
The key health concerns in Angola are disease including
malaria, typhoid, infectious & parasitic diseases,
tuberculosis, respiratory and diarrheal diseases, sickle cell
anemia, rabies, measles, cholera, and chronic non-
communicable diseases. In 2016 Angola imported
pharmaceuticals of around USD 270 million worth, majorly from
India, China, and Portugal. The imports include both raw
materials and finished products. India & China are the leading
exporters of raw materials to Nigeria, accounting
for 95% of total raw material imports.
400
300
200
100
240
265
334
251
288
269
Angola
Pharmaceutical
Imports (USD
Million), 2012-
2018
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
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Moreover the supply of pharmaceuticals in Angola varies from
location to location. In the smaller pharmacies in the outskirts of
major cities tends to sell unregulated & lower
cost pharmaceuticals, which are often imported from India and
China. Whereas the urban facilities supply high
quality & registered drugs. On the other hand, the private
pharmacies sells branded pharmaceuticals, whereas the public
hospital pharmacies sells the generic
pharmaceuticals.
There is presence of nearly 220 importers and distributors of
pharmaceuticals and medical devices across Angola.
The local manufacturing is majorly limited to Nova
Angomédica, a joint venture between the Angolan Ministry of
Health and private company Suninvest. The Nova
Angomédica manufacturers analgesic, antimalarial, anti-
anemic, anti-tuberculosis, anti-inflammatories, anti-
allergic (pills and syrup forms), and also the saline
solution and ointments.
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CAMEROON
Cameroon’s pharmaceutical 90% demand is met through
imports & the remaining 10% from the local production. Of the
total 300 molecules authorized by government of
Cameroon, only 33% are produced locally. The
government is taking initiatives to strengthen their
domestic production & proves their commitment in
delivering quality health to its people.
In beginning of 2018, an Indian pharmaceutical firm
“Africure Pharmaceuticals” in Douala started its
pharmaceutical production. It has a capacity to produce 1 billion
tablets of high quality. It has already started with
the production of 20 essential medicines including the
painkillers, antibiotics, anti-malarial drugs, and will soon
start producing anti-retroviral drugs.
500
455
400
300
200
100
180 185
240
221
183
Cameroon
Pharmaceutical
Imports (USD
Million), 2012-
2018
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
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GHANA
The total demand of drugs supply in Ghana is majorly
covered by the import of pharmaceuticals majorly form India
& China. Nearly 70% of the demand is met by
imports, which amounted to USD 238.3 million in 2017.
Ghana’s government in 2018 came up with a new
development in pharmaceutical industry that has opened
up growth opportunities for the domestic manufacturers.
The government has restricted the import of 49 medicines,
which are now reserved for the domestic manufacturing.
The import restricted medicines are: paracetamol syrup
and tablet, multivitamin tablets, vitamin B complex tablet,
aspirin or caffeine tablet, aluminum hydroxide or
magnesium trisilicate suspension, folic acid tablets.
250
200
150
100
50
83.4
119.6
185.7
206.2
207.5
238.3
Ghana
Pharmaceutical
Imports (USD
Million), 2012-
2018
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
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Scan the QR code or click the link below for
our study on future of pharmaceutical
industry.
https://www.goldsteinresearch.com
About the author
Dennis Abraham Ph.D, senior vice president at Goldstein
Market Intelligence, leads GMI's syndicated health and
wellness research. Before joining Goldstein Market
Intelligence, Dennis held a variety of senior leadership
positions in global and regional consulting roles covering
consumer and retail insights across a broad range of
healthcare categories. Dennis has been providing cross-
category strategic insights to healthcare brands for over 12
years on topics including digital disruption, ecommerce, and
healthcare technology. Dennis holds a Ph.d from Havard
University.
bit.ly/3acISRt
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