Sub-Saharan Africa has begun distributing locally manufactured HIV medicines for the first time, signaling a major move toward health self-sufficiency in a region bearing substantive HIV burden.
Mozambique has received the first shipment of antiretroviral drugs produced in Africa under a new procurement initiative by the Global Fund. The medicine tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (TLD) was manufactured by Universal Corporation Ltd, a pharmaceutical company based in Kenya. The firm became the first African manufacturer to receive World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification for TLD in 2023.
“Having locally produced HIV rapid tests will help increase affordability and address supply chain challenges,” said Doherty of WHO’s Global HIV Programs
“This procurement is a great milestone toward strengthening supply chain systems in Africa,” said Meg Doherty of WHO’s Global HIV Programs. “It will improve health outcomes for people living with HIV who need consistent access to treatment.”
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly 65% of the global HIV population, yet the region has long depended on imports for critical medications and testing kits. The introduction of African-made HIV treatments into national programs marks a step toward ending that reliance.
The Global Fund, a major player in financing responses to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, confirmed the Mozambique rollout as the first use of African-manufactured TLD through its channels.
The WHO is working with national governments and international health partners to grow Africa’s capacity to produce essential medicines and health technologies.
“Local production of quality-assured health products is an urgent priority,” said Rogerio Gaspar of WHO’s Regulation and Prequalification team. “Each African company that meets global standards brings the continent closer to building a self-reliant and fair health system.”
WHO emphasized that the move is not just about manufacturing. For long-term success, African countries need stronger procurement policies, sustained funding, and technical support.
While treatment production is advancing, access to HIV diagnostics remains fragile. Reduced donor funding is straining HIV testing programs that are critical to both prevention and treatment.
To address that, Codix Bio, a Nigerian diagnostics company, recently received a sublicense to manufacture rapid HIV test kits. WHO welcomed the move as a way to lower costs and reduce supply delays.
The WHO is urging African governments to adopt low-cost, WHO-prequalified tests and medicines as part of their national strategies. These steps can improve care delivery while reducing dependency on external supply chains.
“Locally manufactured TLD is a major step toward that goal,” WHO stated. “But more action is needed to maintain the momentum.”
Africa’s shift to producing and procuring its own HIV treatments is not just a public health story. It is a signal that the continent is beginning to rewrite its role in global healthcare one medicine at a time.
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