Diplomatist Magazine Africa Day Special 2018 | Page 51

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
building global networks of communication and
information exchange to improve healthcare
locally, regionally, and worldwide.
The Way Ahead
What India can offer to Africa in the future
will depend on how and in what fi elds both
parties choose to engage to ensure enhanced
healthcare, well-being, and long-term growth
and sustainability. Considering the current
state of the global economy, the role for any
government to perform is that of a facilitator,
not a doer. Some possible ways in which India
can support and facilitate the growth of the
African health industry are:
• Help Indian fi rms establish manufacturing
units or enter into joint ventures with local
companies in the African pharmaceutical
industry, and even introduce a government
fund to promote technology transfer and ensure
the quality of Indian pharmaceutical products
being exported.
• Export of pharma products to Africa and
creation of a good network of supply chain
management.
• Setting up healthcare facilities, including
in traditional medicine, by Indian fi rms.
• Export of human resources.
• Opening more telemedicine centres.
• Scholarships for African students in
medical and nursing colleges.
• Setting up medical colleges.
• Training and exchange of experts in policy
and law with specifi c focus on IPR and drug
regulation policies.
• Supply quality medicines at concessional
rates for major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB,
Malaria, cardiac diseases.
• Medical tourism in India (e.g. Ayurveda
and Allopathy)
On the African governments’ side,
faster drug marketing approval for generic
pharmaceuticals, speedier measures for various
clearances required for setting up new ventures
in the pharmaceutical sector and in the
healthcare sector are required. Indian private
and public sector as well as non-governmental
agencies could also consider taking initiatives in
bringing together philanthropists to contribute
towards Africa’s determination to achieve
health for all in the shor