Establishing competitive and socially inclusive local pharmaceutical industries in West Africa : role of research, innovation, and development

Abstract

This policy brief presents findings on the human resource situation for the pharmaceutical sector in West Africa. The policy brief explains what can be done in terms of training, linking with diaspora, collaboration and partnership with Asian countries and building synergy within ECOWAS to address the human resource requirements for the sector in West Africa. It suggests that as local industries do not have adequate resources to support R&D needs, these could be met through collaboration with local universities. Currently this is difficult due to weak university-industry linkages.