JOHANNESBURG, May 20 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has capabilities in research and development, clinical trials as well as infrastructure to develop and manufacture vaccines but more needs to be done in investment and other areas, said a government official on Thursday.
Director for Health Innovation at the Department of Science and Technology Glaudina Loots made the remarks at a webinar to unpack South Africa's readiness to develop and manufacture vaccines at large scale.
"We do have capabilities but need to improve where we are lacking. We have capabilities in clinical trials and research and development. We have excellent infrastructure which was used for tuberculosis and HIV," said Loots.
She stated that they are negotiating with some international organizations to help the government with investment as well as in discussion with various companies for technical transfer to South Africans to address skills shortage.
Morena Makhoana, CEO of the Cape Town-based Biovac Institute (Biovac), concurred that the country has strength in some areas like infrastructure but needs improvement in others such as large-scale capacity.
He stated that the country should not wait for pandemics to develop capacity, warning that COVID-19 is not the first and last pandemic to visit the country.
Makhoana said the country has to improve on good manufacturing practice, technical transfer and address the intellectual property regulations. There is also a need for improvement in skills and infrastructure.
He gave an example that some university students had to go overseas for their practical program.
"We need policy support that supports localization, local ecosystem and long-term funding of about 20 years. We currently have funding for about five years which is too short. We are halfway there and we have to understand the value chain," said Makhoana.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority Board Chair Helen Rees said the country has to look at demand in the region before preparing to manufacture. She said there are many lessons to be learnt from global pharmaceutical manufacturers. Enditem