SADC PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAMME

SADC PHARMACEUTICAL BUSINESS PLAN

2007-2013

SADC SECRETARIAT
27TH JUNE 2007

ACRONYMS
AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Antiretroviral

ARV

Antiretroviral

cGMP

Current Good Manufacturing Practice

GMP

Good Manufacturing Practice

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HR

Human Resources

ICM

Integrated Committee of Ministers

ICPs

International Cooperating Partners

MDGs

Millennium Development Goals

NEPAD

New Economic Partnership for African Development

PPP

Public Private Partnerships

QA

Quality Assurance

RISDP

Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan

SADC

Southern African Development Community

SADCC

Southern African Development Coordinating Conference

SWOT

Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threats

TB

Tuberculosis

TRIPS

Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

UNGASS

United Nations General Assembly Special Session

WHO

World Health Organization

WTO

World Trade Organization

TABLE OF CONTENT

ACRONYMS........................................................................................................................................ 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. 3

1.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION .................................................... 6

2.

SITUATION ANALYSIS OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE SADC REGION .................... 9

3.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT........................................................................................................... 13

4.

OVERALL GOAL AND MAIN OBJECTIVE .......................................................................... 14

5.

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK .......................................................................................... 17

6.

LINKAGES WITH MEMBER STATES ................................................................................... 18

7.

FINANCING THE PLAN .......................................................................................................... 20

8.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION ...................................................................................... 21

BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................................... 22

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was formally launched on
17th August 2002 under a Treaty, and consists of 14 Member States with an
estimated total population of 200 million people. In its programmes and operations,
SADC is guided by a clear mission statement, which is "To promote sustainable and
equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient
productive systems, deeper co-operation and integration, good governance, and
durable peace and security, so that the region emerges as a competitive and
effective player in international relations and the world economy".

It is worth noting that SADC's integration agenda accords priority to social and
human development including fostering of cooperation in addressing health
challenges which are reflected in the high burden of both communicable such as HIV
and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and non-communicable diseases which include
diabetes, hypertension and cancer. In order to address these challenges, the region
has adopted a collective approach and identified health as one of the priority areas
in its regional cooperation and integration agenda. To this end, a SADC Health
Programme was developed in 1997. The region also prioritized the development of a
Protocol on health matters as this was seen as critical for enhancing regional
integration within a legally enforceable framework. Three key policy documents have
been developed to underpin the implementation of the Programme, namely: Health
Policy Framework, SADC Protocol on Health and the Regional Indicative Strategic
Development Plan (RISDP). The SADC Health Programme has been developed
taking into account global and regional health declarations and targets.

SADC has identified the need to develop and implement a Pharmaceutical

Programme in line with the SADC Health Protocol and the SADC Health Policy. The
purpose of the programme is to enhance the capacities of Member States to
effectively prevent and treat diseases that are of major concern to public health in
the Region. The Programme mainly addresses issues that concern access to quality
medicines in all Member States. The SADC Pharmaceutical Business Plan has been
developed within the context of global, continental and regional policy frameworks,
protocols and commitments. Based on a SWOT analysis, the Plan identifies priority

areas, objectives and major activities that will be implemented both at regional and
national levels to improve access to quality and affordable essential medicines
including African Traditional Medicines.

The overall goal of the SADC Pharmaceutical Business Plan is to ensure availability
of essential medicines including African Traditional Medicines to reduce disease
burden in the region. Its main objective is to improve sustainable availability and
access to affordable, quality, safe, efficacious essential medicines including African
Traditional Medicines. In order to achieve the overall goal and the main objective,
the following strategies will be pursued:

i). Harmonizing standard treatment guidelines and essential medicine

lists;
ii). Rationalizing and maximizing the research and production capacity of
local and regional pharmaceutical industry of generic essential
medicines and African Traditional Medicines;
iii). Strengthening regulatory capacity, supply and distribution of basic
pharmaceutical products through ensuring a fully functional regulatory
authority with an adequate enforcement infrastructure;
iv). Promoting joint procurement of therapeutically beneficial medicines of
acceptable safety, proven efficacy and quality to the people who need
them most at affordable prices;
v). Establishing a regional databank of traditional medicine, medicinal
plants and procedures in order to ensure their protection in accordance
with regimes and related intellectual property rights governing genetic
resources, plant varieties and biotechnology;
vi). Developing and retaining competent human resources for the
pharmaceutical programme;
vii). Developing mechanisms to respond to emergency pharmaceutical
needs of the region; and
viii). Facilitate the trade in pharmaceuticals within SADC.

In line with the SADC Protocol on Health, the Implementation Plan for the Protocol
and the SADC Health Policy Framework, the SADC Pharmaceutical Business Plan
will be coordinated and implemented through the approved SADC structure. The
Business Plan has spelt out clear roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders that
will be involved in the implementation process. At the political level, the
implementation of the Plan will be monitored through the established institutional
framework.

The implementation of the Plan will require substantial resources including human,
material and financial from different sources. The Plan is estimated to cost US$16
million. To ensure ownership and sustainability, Member States will be required to
budget for implementation of some of the interventions that need ongoing financial
support. The SADC Secretariat will make all efforts to mobilize resources from key
stakeholders including International Co-operating Partners.

A monitoring and evaluation framework has been included in order to review

activities during implementation process. The Secretariat will facilitate capacity
building on monitoring and evaluation. Appropriate technical and financial reports will
be produced during and after implementation of program specific activities outlined
in the Pharmaceutical Business Plan.

1.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was formally launched on
17th August 2002 under a Treaty. It consists of 14 Member States namely Angola;
Botswana; Democratic Republic of Congo; Lesotho; Madagascar; Malawi; Mauritius;
Mozambique; Namibia; Swaziland; United Republic of Tanzania; South Africa;
Zambia; and Zimbabwe. SADC originated from the Southern African Development
Coordination Conference (SADCC), which was formed in 1980. It has an estimated
total population of 200 million people, with an average annual population growth rate
of 2.2 per cent.

In its programmes and operations, SADC is guided by a clear mission statement,

which is "To promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socioeconomic development through efficient productive systems, deeper co-operation
and integration, good governance, and durable peace and security, so that the
region emerges as a competitive and effective player in international relations and
the world economy.

1.1

SADC Health Programme

It is worth noting that SADC's integration agenda accords priority to social and
human development including fostering of cooperation in addressing health
challenges which are reflected in the high burden of both communicable such as HIV
and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and non-communicable diseases which include
diabetes, hypertension and cancer. In order to address these challenges, the region
has adopted a collective approach and identified health as one of the priority areas
in its regional cooperation and integration agenda. In order to address these
challenges, the region has adopted a collective approach and identified health as
one of the priority areas in its regional cooperation and integration agenda. To this
end, a SADC Health Programme was developed in 1997. The region prioritized the
development of a protocol on health matters as this was seen as critical for
enhancing regional integration within a legally enforceable framework. Three key
policy documents have been developed to underpin the implementation of the

programme, namely: Health Policy Framework, SADC Protocol on Health and the
Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP).

The SADC Health Policy Framework aims to attain an acceptable standard of health
for all citizens by promoting, coordinating and supporting the individual and collective
efforts of Member States to increase access to evidence based high impact health
interventions. The goal of the health policy is to reach specific targets of "Health for
All in the 21st Century by 2020" in all Member States based on the primary health
care strategy. The SADC Health Policy Framework Document was developed by the
SADC Health Ministers and approved by the SADC Council of Ministers in
September 2000.

The Protocol on Health was approved by the SADC Heads of State in August 1999
and entered into force in August 2004 after ratification by the requisite number of
Member States. The Protocol on Health is premised on the belief that a healthy
population is a prerequisite for sustainable human development and increased
productivity in Member States. It recognizes that close co-operation in the area of
health is essential for the effective control of communicable and non communicable
diseases and for addressing common health concerns

In order to provide strategic direction to the organization and to operationalise the

SADC Common Agenda, a 15 year Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan
(RISDP) was adopted in August 2003 and launched in March 2004. It reaffirms the
commitment of SADC Member States to good political, economic and corporate
governance entrenched in a culture of democracy, full participation by civil society,
transparency and respect for the rule of law. In this Plan, health issues form part of
priority areas.

1.2

Global and Regional Health Targets, Declarations and Commitments

The SADC Health Programme has been developed taking into account global and
regional health declarations and targets. These include the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs); New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD);
Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases

(2001); United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS
(UNGASS) 2001; The Maseru Declaration on HIV and AIDS (2003); Brazzaville
Commitment on Scaling-up Towards Universal Access to HIV and AIDS prevention;
treatment, care and support in Africa by 2010 (2006); and Lusaka Declaration on
African Traditional Medicine (2001).

1.3

SADC Pharmaceutical Programme

1.3.1 SADC has identified the need to develop and implement a Pharmaceutical
Programme in line with the SADC Health Protocol and the SADC Health Policy. The
purpose of the programme is to enhance the capacities of Member States to
effectively prevent and treat diseases that are of major concern to public health in
the Region such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Tuberculosis (TB), malaria and other
communicable and non-communicable diseases. The SADC Pharmaceutical
Programme was approved by the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM) at its
meeting in June, 2004.

1.3.2 The Programme mainly addresses issues that concern access to quality medicines
in all Member States. Therefore, it aims at improving the availability of affordable;
safe; efficacious; and effective essential medicines of acceptable standard. This
should be accompanied by enhanced regional capacity for pharmaceutical
manufacturing as well as the conduct of research in medicines and other
pharmaceutical products including African Traditional Medicines that are relevant to
local health problems. The pharmaceutical programme is one of the priorities under
the RISDP.

1.3.3 It is against this background that a Business Plan has been developed in order to
operationalize the Programme. The Plan has six main sections which include:
Introduction and Background information; Situation Analysis of the Pharmaceuticals
in the SADC region; Overall Goal and Main Objective; Institutional Framework; and
Monitoring and evaluation.

2.

SITUATION ANALYSIS OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE SADC REGION

This section analyses the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
(SWOT) in SADC region on the state of improving access to affordable and quality
essential medicines at both regional and national levels reveals the following:

2.1

Strengths
i).

Existence of an enabling strategic policy context and political will as reflected

in key policy documents such as the SADC Health Policy Framework, SADC
Protocol on Health, the SADC Trade Protocol, Pharmaceutical Programme
and the RISDP;

ii).

All SADC Member States have an official or draft national medicines policy,

iii).

as well as medicines legislations and regulations;

iv).

Existence of the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Shared Network;

v).

The SADC region has developed pharmaceutical guidelines for medicines

regulation and other strategies aiming to improve access to medicines; and

vi).

All countries in SADC region are members of the World Trade Organization
(WTO), which automatically makes them signatory to the Agreement on Trade
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

2.2

Weaknesses
i).

outdated medicine laws and Intellectual Property Laws which are not TRIPS
compliant;

ii).

Government expenditure on health is below the 15% of the total national

budget as per Abuja Declaration for most Member States thereby hampering
provision of adequate health care delivery;

iii).

weak regulatory systems leading to concerns on quality, safety and efficacy of

medicines with many unregistered products on the market, and also the
mushrooming of unlicensed wholesalers and retailers with instances of
medicines being sold on street markets in some countries;

iv).

lack of regulatory capacities and abilities of medicines authorities in Member

States to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines circulating in
their markets;

v).

predominance of Private Sector expenditure on essential medicines in a

region with high poverty levels and substantial price disparities which has
implications on affordability particularly for the poor and disadvantaged
population;

vi).

inadequate national and regional medicine quality control laboratories as

reflected in the following: there is one WHO Pharmaceutical Reference
Quality Control Laboratory in Zimbabwe and one WHO Collaboration Quality
Control Laboratory in South Africa; lack of adequate capacity and properly
trained laboratory personnel to conduct relevant tests; inability to access
laboratory services due to the high cost of analysis of samples from member
states;

vii).

Over dependence on imported medicines both patented and generics. For

instance, about 85% of the generic ARV medicines used in the region are
imported from India and 15% are manufactured within the SADC region;

viii).

Lack of research and development of medicines for diseases of public health

importance and the selection of products is driven largely by market demand.
As a result, medicines for some diseases and health conditions are neglected
because no viable market exists for these products;

ix).

Inappropriate use of medicines in all SADC Countries. More than half of all
medicines in the region are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, and
half of all patients fail to take them correctly;

x).

Inconsistent medicine regulatory procedures and divergent treatment

guidelines and essential drug lists;

xi).

Under utilization of installed manufacturing capacities and failure to comply

with

national

medicines

regulatory

requirements

including

Good

Manufacturing Practice Standards (GMP);

xii).

Unreliable medicine supply systems due to the following: insufficient

procurement

and

supply management capacity;

lack of

established

mechanisms for procurement quality assurance; lack of consumption data and

inadequate estimation of needs and forecasting of medicine requirements;
xiii).

Lack of information on prices and use of medicines;

xiv).

Changing clinical needs;

10

xv).

Unpredictable rate of scaling-up and lack of effective management information

systems to aid evidence based decision making;

xvi).

Lack of pricing policies and substantial variation in prices of essential

medicines for the same or similar products both within and between countries;
and

xvii).

Lack of adequate trained personnel and inappropriate use of available

pharmaceutical professionals whereby these are usually tied up with activities
that can be dealt with by other trained middle level health workers.

2.3

Opportunities
i).

The SADC region has developed pharmaceutical guidelines for medicines

regulation and other strategies aiming to improve access to medicines;

ii).

Development of a policy and legislative framework for regulation and

validation of the safety, quality and efficacy as well as appropriate use of
African Traditional medicines is essential. Populations throughout the region
are using traditional medicines to help meet their primary health care needs.
Medicinal plants contain a wealth of active ingredients that are used in the
production of essential medicines;

iii).

A large regional market for the pharmaceutical manufacturing industries,

which was estimated in 2000 at U$2.5 - 3 billion, creates opportunities for
regional investment and trade, growth of local entrepreneurship, creation of
job opportunities as well as the development of viable pharmaceutical
industries thus ensuring sustainable supply of quality and affordable essential
medicines to meet public health objectives;

iv).

Advanced medicines quality assurance systems in some Member States can

be used for building capacities in other Member States through training and
exchange programmes;

v).

Improvement of efficiency in supply chain management systems through

regional collaboration and sharing of best practices in public sector
procurement. An estimated U$1 billion per year is used in procurement and a
1 % improvement in efficiency could therefore translate into realization of
savings in the region of U$1 0 million; whilst an achievable efficiency gain of
5% can translate into U$50 million savings per year;

11

vi).

The TRIPS agreement contains a number of flexibilities and safeguards that

allow countries to import or manufacture pharmaceuticals that are still under
patent without the consent of the patent holder. So far three Member States
namely; Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have issued either compulsory
licenses or Government use orders to take advantage of the flexibilities to
address public health emergencies. A second window of opportunity which
could be exploited is contained in paragraph 6 of the WTO decision of August
30th of 2003, which allows regional economic blocs with at least half of its
membership being LDCs to trade in pharmaceutics within the bloc without
restrictions. These opportunities can be an effective ways of improving
accessibility and lowering medicine prices in the region;

vii).

Improvement of local research and development capacity through transfer of

technology and improved public-private partnership. The WHO Commission
on Intellectual Property and Public Health issued its final report in April 2006,
calling for increased collaboration between industrialized and developing
countries as well as South - South Collaboration to facilitate technology
transfer in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals;

viii).

There is great scope for strengthening the Public - Private - Partnership (PPP)
given the important roles these sectors are already playing in the
pharmaceutical industry; and

ix).

Increase in additional funding sources and mechanisms can continue to

improve access to essential medicines.

2.4

Threats
i).

Implementation of approved guidelines will require substantial resources and

continued effort both at regional and individual Member State level;

ii).

Current and future bilateral trading agreements could potentially impact

negatively on public health concerns, especially on improving access to
affordable and quality medicines, unless closely monitored;

iii).

The multiplicity of procurement agencies and unregulated donations with

separate administrative and supply system management requirements are
stretching the already overwhelmed public sector medicines supply systems;

12

iv).

Brain drain - Many of the pharmaceutical personnel migrate outside the region
thereby aggravating the problem of inadequate human resource capacity to
effectively implement the various components of national and regional
medicine policies and programmes;

v).

Unethical promotional activities by pharmaceutical manufacturers and

suppliers that aggressively promote their products through various means.
These promotions entice health professionals including pharmacists and
managers dealing within the medicine chain management to engage in
unethical activities. These unethical activities include:
a) the production of substandard/counterfeit medicines;
b) conduct of unethical clinical trials;
c) unethical inspection and registration of medicines and premises; d)
corruption in the procurement processes;
d) distribution of unregistered medicines;
e) irrational prescribing practice; and
f) irrational dispensing practice.

3.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT
The SADC Pharmaceutical Business Plan has been developed within the context of
global, continental and regional policy frameworks, protocols and commitments.
Based on a SWOT analysis the Plan identifies priority areas, objectives and major
activities that will be implemented both at regional and national levels to improve
access to quality and affordable essential medicines including African Traditional
Medicines.

13

4.

OVERALL GOAL AND MAIN OBJECTIVE OF PHARMACEUTICAL BUSINESS

PLAN
The overall goal of the SADC Pharmaceutical Business Plan is to ensure availability
of essential medicines including African Traditional Medicines to reduce disease
burden in the region.

The main objective is to improve sustainable availability and access to affordable,

quality, safe, efficacious essential medicines including African Traditional Medicines.
In order to achieve the overall goal and the main objective, the following strategies
will be pursued;
i).

Harmonizing standard treatment guidelines and essential medicine lists;

ii).

Rationalizing and maximizing the research and production capacity of local

and regional pharmaceutical industry of generic essential medicines and
African Traditional Medicines;

iii).

Strengthening

regulatory

capacity,

supply

and

distribution

of

basic

pharmaceutical products through ensuring a fully functional regulatory

authority with an adequate enforcement infrastructure; Promoting joint
procurement of therapeutically beneficial medicines of acceptable safety,
proven efficacy and quality to the people who need them most at affordable
prices; Establishing a regional databank of traditional medicine, medicinal
plants and procedures in order to ensure their protection in accordance with
regimes and related intellectual property rights governing genetic resources,
plant varieties and biotechnology; Developing and retaining competent human
resources for the pharmaceutical programme;
iv).

Developing mechanisms to respond to emergency pharmaceutical needs of

the region; and

v).

4.1

Facilitate the trade in pharmaceuticals within SADC.

Priority strategic actions of the Pharmaceutical Business Plan

4.1.1 Harmonizing standard treatment guidelines and essential medicine lists:

i).

Facilitate the review of existing treatment guidelines and essential medicine

lists;

14

ii).

Formulate regional standard treatment guidelines and essential medicines

lists; and

iii).

Develop regional guidelines on rational drug use.

4.1.2 Rationalizing and maximizing the research and production capacity of local and
regional pharmaceutical industry of generic essential medicines and African
Traditional Medicines;
i).

Undertake economic appraisal of existing production capacity and feasible

local production for priority medicines and propose mechanisms to maximize
those not fully utilized;

ii).

Strengthen local producers capacity to meet current Good Manufacturing

Practices (cGMP);

iii).

Facilitate harmonization of fiscal measures and pricing policies on raw

materials for producing essential medicines and imported medicines; and

iv).

Facilitate joint ventures and public-private partnership for regional research

and production.

4.1.3 Strengthening regulatory capacity, supply and distribution of basic pharmaceutical

products.
i).

Assess national medicine regulatory authorities to identify critical areas of

weaknesses in control and registration of medicines including African
Traditional Medicines;

ii).

Develop strategies to strengthen national medicine regulatory authorities

capacity to implement harmonized SADC guidelines;

iii).

Identify and strengthen regional training centres on medicines regulation and

quality control matters;

iv).

Facilitate the exchange of information on the safety, quality and efficacy of

medicines, vaccines and blood products as well as joint action to control
illegal and substandard medicines on the market including counterfeit
medicines;

v).

Ascertain capacity of laboratories and facilitate access and testing of essential

medicines and African Traditional Medicines;

15

vi).

Develop/review regulatory environment and strengthen capacity to ethically

review and monitor clinical trials.

4.1.5 Promoting joint procurement of therapeutically beneficial medicines of acceptable

safety, proven efficacy and quality.
i).

Evaluate the options for pooled procurement for priority medicines and
harmonize procurement regulations;

ii).

Identify the priority essential medicines which can bring about the largest
savings from pooled procurement or price negotiations;

iii).

Identify and facilitate access to funding sources and finance mechanisms for
joint procurement;

iv).

Establish a regional mechanism for pooled procurement of medicines; and

v).

Assess and strengthen national procurement agencies and supply chain

management systems.

4.1.6 Establishing a regional databank of traditional medicine, medicinal plants and

procedures in order to ensure their protection in accordance with regimes and
related intellectual property rights governing genetic resources, plant varieties and
biotechnology.
i).

Examine existing databases for traditional medicines in the region;

ii).

Develop/review policies and legal frameworks for the practice of traditional

medicines, codes of ethics and practice for traditional health practitioners as
well as protection of indigenous knowledge and practice (recipes);

iii).

Develop and document the knowledge base on traditional medicines and

practices including inventories/catalogues of effective traditional medicines
and practices, and the development of formularies on traditional medicines;

iv).

Research and documentation on traditional medicines to enhance the role of

traditional medicines and promote cooperation with health systems;

v).

Formalize training on traditional medicines knowledge and practice for non

traditional health practitioners.

4.1.7 Developing and retaining competent human resources for the pharmaceutical
programme within the SADC Human Resources for Health Strategic Framework.

16

Developing mechanisms to respond to emergency pharmaceutical needs of the

region within the framework of Emergency Health Services and Disaster
Management.

4.1.8 Coordinate the implementation of TRIPS flexibilities to improve access to essential

medicines within the SADC region.
i).

Conduct a regional assessment of intellectual property and medicines

legislation in countries to determine their TRIPS compliance and adaptability;

ii).

Identify reliable and specialized legal advice resources both within and
outside the SADC region and maintain a roster of legal experts who are able
to offer technical assistance on TRIPS;

iii).

Collaborate with development partners to enable countries to protect, include

and take advantage of the flexibilities that exist in the TRIPS Agreement as
well as to assist countries in bilateral trade negotiations to conclude
agreements that are not detrimental to public health.

5.

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

PHARMACEUTICAL BUSINESS PLAN
In line with the SADC Protocol on Health, the Implementation Plan for the Protocol
on Health and the SADC Health Policy Framework, the SADC Pharmaceutical
Business Plan will be coordinated and implemented through the SADC approved
structure. The Business Plan has spelt out clear roles and responsibilities of all
stakeholders that will be involved in the implementation process.

At the political level, the implementation of the Plan will be monitored through the
established institutional framework. The SADC Ministers of Health, constituted as a
subcommittee by the Integrated Committee of Ministers reviews, approves,
proposes the Implementation Plan and monitors the implementation of the protocol.
All meetings of Ministers of Health will be preceded and supported by a meeting of
senior officials, from Departments responsible for health in Member States.
Technical sub-committees or Task Teams will be constituted by as and when
required. They will have clear terms of reference for the tasks to be undertaken, and

17

the duration of their assignment will be stipulated. The subcommittees will be

required to assist with development of detailed programmes and project plans and to
monitor the implementation of these.

The Directorate is responsible for overseeing SADC's response to social and

developmental issues. Within the Directorate there is a Health Desk with clearly
defined roles and functions in coordinating the implementation of the Plan. Some of
these include: development of yearly plans; organizing technical subcommittee
meetings; drafting terms of reference for consultancies and studies; dissemination of
information to all stakeholders on the implementation of the Plan; compiling reports
to ICM on progress made with implementation of the Plan; and mobilizing technical
and financial resources.

6.

LINKAGES WITH MEMBER STATES

National Health Ministries will support the implementation of the Plan through timely
responses to requests by the SADC Health Desk. They will lead implementation of
any programmes at a national level and will support the process through assigning
resources, including human resources when appropriate. National Health Ministries
will report on progresses made regarding the implementation of the Plan through
their SADC National Committees.

The following diagram explains the linkages among the different actors in the Plan.

18

Integrated
Committee of
Ministers
Sub-Committee
of Ministers of
Health

Senior Officials
Regional Level

Directorate
SHDSP
Regional
specialized
technical
Subcommittees

National Level

Stakeholders e.g.
ICP, Professional
associations

SADC National
Contact point

SADC National
Committee

SADC Health
Contact point

National Health
Committee

Relationships
*Functional
*Reporting

19

Stakeholders

including

research

institutions,

teaching

institutions,

NGOs,

professional councils and associations, regulatory authorities and communities are

essential for the successful implementation of the various provisions of the Business
Plan. Their role will be to identify areas of co-operation that require their expertise
and competency and to assist with implementation of the same. Stakeholders may
offer advice, technical assistance, coordination in an area, and material and/or
financial resources. Stakeholders will be invited to major fora that review progress
with the implementation of the Plan.

7.

FINANCING THE PLAN

The implementation of the Plan will require substantial resources including human,
material and financial from different sources. The Plan is estimated to cost US$16
million. The major expenditure items will cover:
i).

Harmonizing standard treatment guidelines and essential medicine lists;

ii).

Rationalizing and maximizing the research and production capacity of local

and regional pharmaceutical industry of generic essential medicines and
African Traditional Medicines;

iii).

Strengthening

regulatory

capacity,

supply

and

distribution

of

basic

pharmaceutical products through ensuring a fully functional regulatory

authority with an adequate enforcement infrastructure;
iv).

Promoting joint procurement of therapeutically beneficial medicines of

acceptable safety, proven efficacy and quality to the people who need them
most at affordable prices; Establishing a regional databank of traditional
medicine, medicinal plants and procedures in order to ensure their protection
in accordance with regimes and related intellectual property rights governing
genetic resources, plant varieties and biotechnology;

v).

Developing and retaining competent human resources for the pharmaceutical

programme; and

vi).

Developing mechanisms to respond to emergency pharmaceutical needs of

the region.

20

To ensure ownership and sustainability, Member States will be required to budget

for implementation of some of the interventions that need ongoing financial support.
The SADC Secretariat will make all efforts to mobilize resources from all parties
including co-operating partners. Substantial resources will have to be mobilized for
implementation of programmes and projects and this can only be done through
potential co-operating partners and multilateral and bilateral agencies and
organizations. Some stakeholders in the health sector, e.g. research organizations
will be approached to support the plan through undertaking specific activities within
the plan and coordinate and/or funding specific tasks for the sector.

8.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF THE BUSINESS PLAN

A monitoring and evaluation framework will be built in order to review activities
during implementation. The Secretariat will facilitate capacity building on monitoring
and evaluation. The main activities of monitoring and evaluation will include:
i).

reviewing and assessing progress in the implementation of the Plan;

ii).

assessing effective utilization of mobilized funds and other

iii).

resources;

iv).

producing Bi-annual Progress Report by Member States;

v).

reviewing the implementation of SADC Pharmaceutical Business Plan;

vi).

ensure adherence to international requirements for M&E; and

vii).

promoting the use of core indicators.

Appropriate technical and financial reports will be produced during and after
implementation of program specific activities outlined in the Pharmaceutical Business Plan.

21

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.

Collen V. Chien (2007): HIV/AIDS drugs for Sub-Saharan Africa: How do Brand and
Generic supply compare.

2.

Martin Khor: Third World Network: Patents, Compulsory Licensing and Access to
Medicines: Some Recent Experiences, Feb. 2007.

3.

National Policy on Traditional Medicines and Regulation of Herbal Medicines; WHO,

2005 (2001 data) - based on responses from Ministries of Health.

4.

SADC Human Resources for Health Strategic Framework.

5.

UN (2007): Policy Issues for African Countries in Multilateral and Regional Trade
Negotiations: Conclusions and recommendations.

6.

WHO World Medicines Situation, 2004 (1999 data).

7.

WHO World Medicines Situation, 2004 (2000 data).

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