Expanding the access of medical supplies in Africa

Bayer Foundation has signed an agreement with Africa Medical Supply Platform (AMSP), supporting the digital marketplace to make Covid-19 vaccines and other medical supplies widely available across Africa.

Every month of delay in the provision of Covid-19 vaccines has the potential to cost the African continent close to $14 billion in lost GDP, estimates the World Bank. As a result of the global pandemic, countries across the world still heavily competed for Covid-19 vaccines, masks, gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE), with prices dramatically increasing. The Bayer Foundation’s one-year grant aims to support AMSP expansion by leveraging bulk purchasing power to secure critical medical supplies and stabilize their prices in Africa.

“The global pandemic has pushed healthcare systems across the world to the limits. Our vision is Health for All, Hunger for None. Driven by this vision, Bayer Foundation aims to build resilient healthcare systems that can reach even the remotest communities; especially when a global pandemic strikes,” Monika Lessl, Head of Bayer Foundation states.

“While the vaccination gap between Africa and other parts of the world widens, the latest COVID-19 variants are hitting our continent”, said Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). “We are still deploying relentless efforts to help each African Union Member State to reach the goal of immunizing 70 percent of Africans.”

Launched as an immediate, integrated and practical response to the Covid-19 pandemic by the African Union, the AMSP offers to 55 African Union member states and CARICOM countries a direct access to vetted manufacturers of Covid vaccines, drugs, medical equipment and PPE. The AMSP was developed under the leadership of the African Union Special Envoy, Strive Masiyiwa and is powered by Janngo on behalf of the African Union’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The platform has been playing a critical role in Africa’s pandemic response.

By connecting medical suppliers with African buyers through digital technologies, AMSP provides all relevant services related to volume aggregation, quota management, payment facilitation as well as logistics & transportation for governments, national health systems, public & private hospitals, NGOs and donor organizations.

“We are extremely proud to partner with Bayer Foundation as we share the same vision of expanding access to quality healthcare in Africa.” said Fatoumata Bâ, Founder & Executive Chair of Janngo Capital. “The Foundation support is key to help AMSP scale its reach and broaden its impact to the benefit of populations and healthcare systems.”