Sandoz signs a manufacturing and supply agreement with Rwanda to ensure stable access to essential medicines, supporting regional distribution across Africa and strengthening antibiotic supply resilience.
Written By: Pharmacally Medical News Desk
Sandoz has signed a direct manufacturing and supply agreement with the Government of Rwanda to support a stable flow of essential medicines, marking a structured step toward improving access across Africa. The agreement, formalized in Kigali, initially covers approximately 60 products and includes provisions to extend supply beyond Rwanda to selected partner countries, with scope for broader regional expansion.
The partnership follows the Alpbach Communiqué published in Tyrol, Austria, a multinational initiative aimed at securing European-based antibiotic supply for both Europe and partner regions. Sandoz, a major global producer of generic antibiotics, endorsed the communiqué, alongside Rwanda, which hosts the African Medicines Agency. The agreement aligns with this broader effort to strengthen supply resilience and ensure continuity of critical medicines.
Simon Goeller, Chief Transformation and Growth Officer at Sandoz, described the deal as an initial step toward building a sustainable regional procurement model for affordable, high-quality medicines. He noted that the agreement supports patient access while also reinforcing the role of Sandoz’s Kundl site in Austria, a key hub for end-to-end antibiotic manufacturing in Europe. He added that while the agreement secures additional supply volumes for Africa, similar coordinated actions are still needed from European governments to sustain such manufacturing infrastructure.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, emphasized that the country continues to prioritize both infectious disease control and cancer care within its public health system. He stated that the collaboration with established generic and biosimilar manufacturers is intended to expand access to affordable treatments, including antibiotics and oncology therapies. The agreement is positioned to improve treatment availability not only within Rwanda but also across the African Union.
This collaboration reflects a coordinated approach between industry and government to address medicine access, supply stability, and regional healthcare needs through structured procurement and manufacturing partnerships.
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