Coming at a pivotal time, the attendance and impact of the second African Healthcare Manufacturing Trade Exhibition and Conference (AHMTEC) is expected to surpass last year’s inaugural event, the organisers say. Hosted by the Federation of African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (FAPMA) and Vizuri Health Dynamics, AHMTEC 2025 will take place from 7 to 9 October 2025. It is being held under the theme "Collaborate to Compete: Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Growth". 

Across the continent, national health systems are grappling with shrinking donor funding, disrupted global supply chains and the continuing overreliance on imported medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and medical equipment. African manufacturers currently supply less than 30% of the medicines consumed on the continent.

“This is a life-threatening vulnerability, not just a market imbalance,” says Dr. Skhumbuzo Ngozwana, FAPMA Board Member. “We are past the wake-up call. This is now a survival imperative. When global politics shifts, Africa’s healthcare systems should not collapse. Our people’s lives depend on how quickly we move toward manufacturing self-reliance and AHMTEC is the platform to drive that transformation.”

He notes that what sets AHMTEC apart from other forums is its manufacturer-led agenda. “Unlike traditional health sector conferences where donors and policy makers dominate discussions, AHMTEC 2025 has been co-designed with African manufacturers to ensure that every session, panel and networking opportunity delivers practical, growth-focused outcomes.”

“This isn’t about speeches. It’s about scale,” notes Dr. Mariatou Tala Jallow, Council Chair of Vizuri Health Dynamics. “AHMTEC is engineered for manufacturers who are ready to grow within an enabling manufacturing ecosystem.

“With Africa’s healthcare manufacturing at a crossroads, we either continue to wait for help or we actively contribute to building the systems ourselves, starting at AHMTEC,” she concludes.