Health Minister participating in 2nd World Local Production Forum
Addis Ababa, November 7, 2023 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Lia Taddese highlighted her country’s efforts to replace pharmaceuticals and medical equipment with local products at the Second World Local Production Forum, organized by World Health Organization (WHO).
The Minister asserted her country’s efforts while chairing a panel discussion at the 2nd World Local Production Forum, under the theme “Enhancing access to medicines and other health technologies”.
Aiming to explore ways of enhancing locally manufactured pharmaceuticals in Africa, the panel discussion was held on the sidelines of the Forum. The event is being held from 6 to 8 November 2023, in The Hague, the Netherlands, according to the Ministry of Health.
While co-chairing the panel discussion titled “Supporting local production needs and strategic goals in Africa”, Minister Lia expounded her country’s efforts to expand and encourage local production of medical supplies and equipment.
The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) is working to advance to Maturity Level 3, Lia noted, while highlighting the efforts for prequalifying products of local pharmaceuticals manufacturers by the World Health Organization and Ethiopia’s 10-year national pharmaceuticals production development strategic plan, in that regard.
The Minister also discussed the status of the vaccine manufacturing project in Ethiopia and the capacity building of the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industries with various development partners and international institutions.