The State of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in the Democratic Republic of Congo: The Journey so Far

Abstract

Despite a population of over 89 million people, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has just 30 local pharmaceutical manufacturers (DRC) with the majority of manufacturers based in Kinshasa, the capital city. Of the total number of pharmaceutical products sold in the DRC, just 10% accounts for those manufactured locally. The DRC remains dependent on other countries such as China and India for the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) -thus, local pharmaceutical manufacturing is therefore reliant on imported commodities and industrial machinery. Given the relevance of the pharmaceutical industry, it is vital to pay careful attention to the problems affecting it. Here, we assess the current situation of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the DRC, examine current challenges, and provide solutions for future development.