Federal authorities have embarked on an ambitious initiative, granting 17 domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers preferential access to a multi-billion Birr supply contract scheme. Part of a comprehensive 10-year plan unveiled last year by the Ministry of Finance, it targets the growth of local pharmaceutical production while curtailing the country's foreign currency expenditure on pharmaceutical procurements.

The preferential treatment is designed to respond to the chronic foreign currency scarcity that has long beleaguered the sector. The initiative is part of the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Services' (EPSS) strategy to provide local manufacturers up to 55pc of foreign currency payments for inputs.

According to Solomon Nigussie, the deputy head of EPSS, the dual objectives of the plan are boosting foreign exchange reserves and reviving the domestic pharmaceutical industry.

"The main goal here is to save dollars," he told Fortune.

By increasing the local manufacturers' share of EPSS's annual procurements from eight percent to an ambitious 25pc, the government wants to uplift the local industry's market presence. The initiative takes root in a broader context where Ethiopia, like many developing countries, wrestles with the problem of ensuring a steady and reliable supply of pharmaceuticals. The country's reliance on imported medical supplies has strained its foreign currency reserves and exposed it to supply chain vulnerabilities.

The authorities' shift towards empowering local production is seen as a strategic move to address these risks, ensuring a self-sufficient healthcare system.

The scheme has already seen the signing of agreements for two billion Birr worth of supplies, following a tender floated in September that covered 120 varieties of medicine, chemicals, reagents, and medical equipment. Despite a competitive selection process, only 20 suppliers, including three importers, qualified for 49 items valued at 3.9 billion Br. It is part of EPSS's larger procurement plan, which totalled 41 billion Br last year and is expected to reach nearly 46 billion Br this year, with a substantial portion of the supply coming from donations.

In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Health last week, Abdulqadir Jeljelo, head of the Service, sought cooperation to streamline operations for the 17 companies that secured contracts under the recent supply contract scheme.

EPSS, a state-owned enterprise established in 1947, has been at the forefront of exploring avenues to source products from domestic suppliers. Its efforts are now being supported by regulatory agencies, with the Public Procurement & Property Authority reviewing a proposal to initiate the procurement of 3.5 billion Br worth of medical supplies through restricted bids.

The former Minister of Health, Lia Tadesse (MD) engaged the American consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, to consult on a sustainable domestic supply chain. The firm's task was to chart a course for the sector to meet 60pc of the country's medical demand locally in the next five years.

The ambitious goal reflects a broader vision to reduce dependency on imports and encourage a robust local pharmaceutical industry capable of addressing the population's healthcare needs, says Firehiwot Abebe, the state minister for Health. She disclosed a decision to allow local manufacturers to settle a substantial portion of their foreign currency payments.

"It was clear that most have struggled with forex access," she told Fortune.

Extensive studies informed the policy change to identify domestic manufacturers' major hurdles, with access to foreign currency being a major challenge. In response, a directive was sent to the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), urging the prioritisation of pharmaceutical manufacturers in the allocation of foreign currency, with detailed estimates underway to ascertain the specific needs of each manufacturer.

The Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) plays a defining role in this process, analysing the supply dynamics and determining the foreign currency required by domestic manufacturers through an input-output coefficient ratio. According to its officials, this approach ensures that the support extended to the manufacturers is precisely calibrated to their operational needs.