During a high-level event on 30 October on the sidelines of the Third India-Africa Forum Summit 2015 in New Delhi, India, leaders from India, the African Union, several African nations and major Indian pharmaceutical companies pledged to address existing and emerging challenges to health commodity security in Africa.

The Indian pharmaceutical industry produces low-cost generic medicines that have been instrumental in scaling up access to HIV treatment in developing countries. The low price of generic first-line regimens is one of the factors that have contributed to the milestone achievement of providing access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy to more than 15 million people around the world.

Of the 36.9 million people living with HIV in 2014, around 25.8 million live in sub-Saharan Africa. By mid-2015, 11.4 million people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa had access to treatment. The achievement builds momentum for ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

However, despite the progress made so far, the price of second- and third-line medicines and diagnostics continues to be a barrier to HIV treatment access. One of the actions that will improve the situation is ensuring that pharmaceutical innovations are available, affordable and accessible to all.

As part of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa, African Union member states are taking steps to develop the local pharmaceutical sector on the African continent to enable Africa to manufacture a sustainable supply of high quality and affordable essential medicines. The development of the pharmaceutical industry will contribute to better public health outcomes and economic growth across the continent. An African and international consortium of partners that includes UNAIDS is supporting the local production of medicines.

Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe are already producing World Health Organization pre-qualified antiretroviral medicines, with other countries planning to start production.