Two important developments supporting Rwanda’s burgeoning pharmaceutical industry happened this week. The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) announced it would open its regional office for Africa in Kigali this year, and Rwanda FDA hosted a World Health Organization (WHO) team to finalize its benchmarking for Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status.
For context, only five countries on the continent have ML3-certified regulatory agencies today. And, just like Rwanda, most African countries are heavily import-dependent for their needs in medicines and vaccines.
This week’s developments highlight Rwanda's potential to lead the way in pharmaceutical production and regulation, particularly in light of its status as home to Africa's first mRNA technology vaccine manufacturing plant – BioNTech – whose construction has reached advanced stage.
The presence of such cutting-edge facilities will position Rwanda as a regional hub for production of life-saving pharmaceuticals that the continent badly needs and often badly struggles to get access to.
To fully realize this potential and sustain the momentum of progress, however, it is imperative to invest in building a skilled workforce that will effectively support these initiatives. As Rwanda strives to cement its position as a regional pharmaceutical hub, the development of a capable workforce becomes paramount.
Investing in education and training programmed tailored to the pharmaceutical industry is essential. This includes equipping individuals with specialized knowledge in areas such as vaccine development, regulatory affairs, quality control, and manufacturing processes.
Collaborations with international institutions and industry experts can facilitate knowledge transfer and ensure that Rwandan professionals have access to the latest advancements and best practices in the field.
In the long run, however, a comprehensive overhaul of pharmacy and health sciences education will be needed to equip learners with the required skills, knowledge, and exposure for modern pharmaceutical manufacturing – right from the first year of university.
For the longest time, and rightly so because Rwanda did not have a single pharmaceutical plant, pharmacy education was vastly theoretical, and most pharmacists only mastered drug dispensing. The day for change has come.
Encouraging local talent to engage in research and development initiatives, as well as promoting collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector can further stimulate innovation and propel the pharmaceutical industry forward.