THE IMPORT TRAP, East Africa’s Pharmaceutical Industry

The Import Trap: East Africa’s Pharmaceutical Industry Why does East Africa still import nearly 90% of its medicines — even as the region faces a rising burden of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer? This video investigates the causes and consequences of pharmaceutical import dependency — from medicine shortages and fake drugs to the economic cost of missed opportunities. It also explores bold new steps being taken across the region to build a self-sustaining pharma future. 📺 Watch now to learn why this matters more than ever. 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more insights into global health and pharma development across Africa. 📌 Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: East Africa's Growing Health Crisis 00:24 – Population Growth and the Rise of NCDs 00:48 – The Import Trap: Overdependence on Foreign Medicines 01:22 – Fake Medicines: Deadly Consequences of Weak Supply Chains 02:42 – Rwanda, Kenya and the Regional Response 02:59 – The Business Case for Local Manufacturing 03:25 – What It Will Take: Systems, Skills, and Strategy 03:51 – Conclusion: Why Now Is the Time to Build