As noncommunicable diseases spread and infectious diseases continue to take a heavy toll on the health of populations, Africa is heavily affected by disease. Yet, efficient, low-cost and sometimes very simple options for African people to manage their health problems exist, especially if they can rely on regular access to safe, effective treatment and care. Despite being universally recognized as a human right, access to medicines is far from being guaranteed for the majority of Africans. At the same time, the value of Africa’s combined pharmaceutical industry has grown from $4.7 billion in 2003 to $20.8 billion in 2013, and by 2020, pharmaceutical market could represent a $65 billion opportunity for drug manufacturers. Seeing a large potential …show more content…
Many African countries import form developing countries such as China, India and Brazil where the price of medicines is more competitive on the market regarding the price of drugs. In recent years, China-Africa relations have been strengthened in particular in the context of the debate concerning the health sector issue in Africa. China has made substantial health commitments to Africa in the past several decades. For many years, China has been Africa's major sources of drugs and medicines .China is one of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the world which produce generic at affordable cost for low-income Africans. The growing opportunities offer by African pharmaceutical market, and the China-Africa health cooperation have permitted China to increase its exports on the continent. In recent years, the average growth rate of in China-Africa trade has remained at a high level, with imports and exports increasing from US $ 184 million in 2001 to US $ 20.8 billion in 2012. The volume of medicine that China imports to Africa is growing at a faster rate than the volume it is exporting to Southeast Asia. Therefore Africa has become has become the main export market for Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises, accounted for 13. 92% of total