The Local Production and Assistance Unit from WHO-HQ in collaboration with WCO-Ethiopia conducted a holistic situational analysis on the development of Kilinto Pharmaceutical Industrial Park (KPIP) from 16-29 September 2019 to support Ethiopia under the National Strategy and Plan of Action for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development in Ethiopia 2015-2025 (NSPA-Pharma) to increase access to quality-assured medical products and improve public health. The holistic situational analysis identified challenges and needs-based support in areas key to the development of the KPIP, including the policy, business and regulatory environments, infrastructure, quality assurance, status of the industry and others.
The situational analysis team was led by Dr. Jicui Dong, Head of the Local Production and Assistance Unit. Fruitful discussions were held with H.E Dr. Lia Tadesse, State Minister of the Ministry of Health, H.E. Mr Teka Gebreyess, State Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Deputy Commissioner Hana Arayaselassie, Ethiopian Investment Commission, Director General Heran Gerba, Ethiopian Food and Drugs Authority, and Deputy Director General Messay Woldemariam, the Food Beverages and Pharmaceuticals Industries Development Institute, and other relevant ministries. Focus group discussions were also organized with representatives of the industry and other relevant stakeholders. The team also made a physical visit to survey the development of the KPIP. A situational analysis report with key recommendations was submitted to the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) for further GoE-WHO collaborations, including a deeper analysis and benchmarking of the KPIP toward establishing and maintaining a quality assurance system within the KPIP.
During the 7th NSPA-Pharma Joint Steering Committee meeting, the Ethiopian Investment Commission expressed its desire to leverage on the technical assistance from WHO in setting up an appropriate and comprehensive industrial park level quality assurance system that ensures the development of the KPIP that fulfils the international cGMP requirements.
The NSPA-Pharma, which was developed by the Government of Ethiopia with support from WHO, was officially launched in July 2015. One key strategic objective of the NSPA-Pharma is to develop dedicated industrial parks for pharmaceutical production. The Ethiopian government is currently developing the KPIP, an industrial park fully dedicated to pharmaceutical manufacturers. The entire horizontal infrastructure of the KPIP has been built. With the construction of the park near completion, attracting quality investors into the park followed.