Context
Senegal imports more than 90 per cent of its medicines and 99 per cent of its vaccines. In an effort to reduce its dependence on imports, the country wants to locally produce half of the pharmaceutical products it needs by 2035. The aim is to ensure availability and access to high-quality medicines and vaccines to the population. To achieve this, Senegal needs to improve the framework conditions, as well as public and private sector structures.
Objective
The institutional structures of relevant stakeholders in the public and private sectors have been strengthened to enable the expansion of vaccine and pharmaceutical production in Senegal.
Approach
The project operates in the following areas:
• Coordination: It is supporting Senegal’s Ministry of Health in establishing and implementing reforms and incentives, such as tax relief, to boost the vaccine and pharmaceutical industry.
• Regulation: It is assisting the Senegalese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority in achieving and maintaining maturity level 3 status, as defined by the World Health Organization. This confirms that a stable, well-functioning and integrated regulatory system is in place.
• Production: It is boosting local production of vaccines and medicinal products, for example by supporting the establishment of new production lines and building partnerships with European companies.
• Vocational training and continuing education: It is financing, designing and implementing two new vocational education and training programmes in partnership with local training institutes, and providing continuing education for employees. In addition, it is working with the private sector and government to develop a national training strategy, with a view to increasing the number of skilled workers available in future.