South Africa strengthens Africa's healthcare supply chains with USD 2 billion investment
South African manufacturers and distributors are increasing their share of continental healthcare demand, driven by the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA and the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism APPM. African Union leaders committed to fully operationalizing APPM as a "Buy African" initiative in February 2026. By May, the Africa CDC completed its first APPM tender across 10 AU Member States, achieving 30–90% lower prices and involving African manufacturers for five of the ten products. In June, Egypt became the first AU Member State to formally join APPM and will host its operational headquarters. Over R 33 billion USD 2 billion in new healthcare investment is flowing into African markets through various financial institutions, with Johannesburg serving as a key center for capital deployment and management.
