Tanzania generic pharma sector set for growth

The East African reports predictions of healthy growth in Tanzania's spend on generic medicines -- the annual figure will rise from $105 million now to $188 million by 2014, says consultancy Frost & Sullivan. Government and donor-supported programmes will account for most of this. The increased spend is reckoned to be a possible tonic for growth of local generics manufacture. In 2007 Tanzania had just eight drug manufacturing companies, compared to Kenya’s nearly 40.

According to World Trade Organisation (WTO) provisions, Tanzania is free to amend the Patents Act to exclude, until 1 January 2016, pharmaceutical products from protection through patents and undisclosed information.

The conclusion we can draw from this is that it's not the presence of patent laws that stimulates sectoral growth, but the presence of purchasers with money in their pockets and of people capable of providing them with something to spend.