A GATEWAY TO AFRICA
For the first time, Africa played host to the Annual International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance (IGPA) Conference. Organized
by the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of South Africa (NAPM), the 14th International Conference took
place in Cape Town, South Africa, November 1-3, 2011.
Figure 2: Previous period growth % in value - IMS data
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Opened by South Africa's Director General of the National Department of Health, Dr. Malebona Precious Matsoso, the two-day
event gave delegates the opportunity to hear prominent local and international industry personalities and government authorities
discuss current topics pertinent to the global pharmaceutical and healthcare sector.
With representatives from institutions such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European
Generic Association (EGA), as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), the conference gathered high-level international
stakeholders.
Figure 3: top 25 players in the total pharmaceutical market IMS data
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Under the theme of "Breaking Barriers to Medicine Access," speakers discussed the sustainability of the current generic business
model, regulatory developments affecting the industry, globalization and HIV/AIDS treatments, the impact of the diminishing
innovator pipeline, competitive strategies involving intellectual property and patents, and the role of super generics and
pseudo generics.
With India as the IGPA's 2010 host and Japan to host the conference this year, the selection of South Africa to host this
prestigious international event has great value. It reflects both the potential in South Africa and the confidence in the
country's capacity to lead a pharmaceutical model for the entire continent.
Mohammad Bodhania, chairman of the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NAPM), says, "Although we would have
liked more African delegates, I think this conference showed that South Africa and the world community understand the challenges
the continent is facing."
Novo Nordisk’s Changing Diabetes Bus
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Many industry leaders see South Africa as the springboard for conducting business in Africa. "South Africa is definitely a
gateway to the African markets," says Dr. Timmy Kedijang, general manager of southern Africa for Novo Nordisk. "In terms of
its economic strength, level of development, and information technology, South Africa is way ahead of most other African markets."
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