Pharmaceutical companies: On the road to industrialization
On April 4, 2024, the Minister of Public Health visited pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Yaoundé. It examined the technical and human capacities, the production circuit and the difficulties of the structures. The first stop was Société Industrielle des Produits Pharmaceutiques (SIPP) in Mvan. Taken over by Célestin Tawamba in 2008, its capacity was increased from 5,000 to 12 million bags of solutes after a 3 billion FCFA renovation. The Minister suggested that it should be the first qualified in the approval process, affirming the importance of supporting local industry.
Dr Manaouda Malachie and his delegation inspected the quality of the facilities, including water and air treatment, production rooms and laboratories.
Industry players report that Cameroon’s fifteen pharmaceutical companies are struggling to secure 2% of the national market, valued at 500 billion FCFA. They pleaded for at least 30% to be granted initially. A similar request was made by the President of SIPP. The Minister of Public Health was in favor, pointing out that the matter was already under consideration. “You can count on us to increase the size of the market. However, we will go gradually to guarantee patient safety through quality medicines at lower cost”, he reassured.
