Why Africa’s next health crisis might be a supply chain, not a disease
By Abbas Virji, Managing Director, Shalina Healthcare
A rural pharmacy in Nigeria ran out of medicine last year.
Not from demand, but because a shipment sat at a port, three weeks late.
Every delay in supply can become a delay in care.
Every disruption can affect treatment continuity.
Every gap in availability can weaken trust in the healthcare system.
That’s why local manufacturing matters.
It’s not the easiest path — it takes investment, quality systems, regulatory discipline, and long-term commitment.
But it builds something Africa urgently needs healthcare resilience. Our experience across African markets has taught us one thing clearly: Strong health systems are built before crisis, not during one.
The next disruption will come. How far will medicine have to travel when it does?
