Drug productionin Africa ? YES

Dr. Hodel (l) and DR. Issa Hamadjoda, Cinpharm

Six long years, since Dr. Hodel went to Cameroon and started talking to everyone who would listen that a continent as large and diverse as Africa needed it's own drug production. "It can't be done" was the response in the US and even from some Africans. At the end it came faster than expected: Cameroon company starts full scale production of solid oral drugs, antibiotics, antifungals and pain killers. Others are in the pipeline. Goal is 60 products on the market. The company called Cinpharm is full African owned and run. Approximately 300 Cameroonians have been trained to run production, take care of quality control following GMP - Good Manufacturing Practices - the gold standard of the Pharmaceutical Industry world wide. In The USA this is better known to people as the FDA, the Food & Drug Administration.  

AIDSfreeAFRICA is pleased. However, instead of Dr. Hodel going into retirement, her work has just begun. We will do our best to help to expand, maintain, train and troubleshoot. In addition to production, drug access is becoming an issue, and HR - human resources. The Universities need resources to train students to become the next generation of drug producers. 

A truly exciting outlook.    

In a blog of the American Chemical Society, editor Linda Wang raises the question: Can A Pasta King Bring Generic Drugs To Sub-Saharan Africa? 

The resounding answer is YES.