ORMATION OF A PRIVATE SECTOR BRICS HEALTH AND PHARMACEUTICAL...

ORMATION OF A PRIVATE SECTOR BRICS HEALTH AND PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION CAN
PLAY HUGE ROLE IN MAKING QUALITY HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBLE TO AFRICA
For Immediate Release
22 August 2023
On Thursday, 17 August 2023, the Numolux Group held an event to commemorate the culmination
of their series of Health Seminars titled: BRICS and Africa: African Solutions to Africa's Health
Challenges.
The purpose of these seminars was to bring together stakeholders, namely businesses,
governments, academics, civil society and interested individuals and institutions, to focus on health
challenges faced by the people of BRICS and African Countries and find solutions to said challenges.
Findings from these seminars, which focused on malaria, non communicable diseases (oncology
and diabetes), regulatory harmonisation and mental health and wellness clearly emphasised that
there is a need for:
greater collaboration between the private and public sectors to improve the quality of
health and promote wellness,
the harmonisation of the regulatory authorities within the SADC, the African continent and
BRICS countries,
BRICS investment in the pharmaceutical and medical equipment space, from research and
development through to manufacturing,
these products are to be made available to the continent of Africa.
There is a need for greater collaboration between regulatory authorities within SADC, Africa, and the
BRICS to facilitate ease of trade and to increase access to affordable medicines, pharmaceuticals and
vaccines, preferably manufactured locally.
Dr Owen KALUWA, WHO Representative for South Africa, was present at the event and cited
challenges in global healthcare as follows:
Around 30% of the global population cannot access essential health services (2019).
Almost 2 billion people face catastrophic or impoverishing health spending, with significant
inequalities affecting those most vulnerable (2017).
Many other health-related SDG targets are also, of course:
An estimated 5 million under-5 children died in 2021.
Global MMR is 223 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births (2020), against the SDG global
target of 70.
Globally we are off course for SDG targets on infectious and non-communicable diseases.
With all of the above in mind, Col (Ret) Hilton Klein, Chairperson of the Numolux Group fiercely
advocated for the formal formation of a private sector BRICS Health and Pharmaceutical Association.
He said: "As the private sector, we can no longer stand by as Africa and her people get the short end
of the stick in healthcare. Within our space of BRICS and African countries, we can work alongside
governments and produce life-saving medicines, vaccines and medical-related products which are
easily accessible and more affordable to the most underserved populations of the globe.
Member of SA BRICS Business Council, Stavros Nicolaou, spoke at the Numolux event and echoed
Col. Klein's sentiment, saying Africa needs financial support to strengthen the health infrastructure
and be able to procure medicines and vaccines to help fight against pandemics which hit the
continent. Nicolaou insisted that "Africa should be given an equal opportunity to equality of
resources, pharmaceutical interventions, medicines, and vaccines."
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, emphasised that South Africa is committed
to building a partnership between BRICS and Africa in a bid to unlock mutually beneficial
opportunities for increased trade, investment, and infrastructure development.
One positive event, which could lead to creating jobs at a crucial time in South Africa's economy, was
the announcement of a new partnership between COVIRIX Medical from Melbourne, Australia and
the Numolux Group.
Prof Kumud Dhital, CEO of COVIRIX Medical, was present at the event and said he was excited about
their new venture with Numolux: "COVIRIX Medical is delighted to announce a partnership with the
South African Numolux Group towards further developing and introducing our repurposed, and now
patented inhalational antiviral therapy to the African continent and ultimately to the BRICS +
Alliance, and beyond. Extensive pre-clinical studies demonstrate effectiveness against several SARSCoV-2 variants. In addition, due to its unique mechanism of action, we believe that it will provide
broadartnership will go well beyond this immediate remit and that it will
provide a sustainable platform to accelerate the development of additional therapies for other
diseases, whenever possible, through our repurposing strategy that significantly shortens the
standard timeline of product discovery to prescription.
We are confident that this strategic global relationship between our Australian company and the
Numolux Group will eventually permit us to jointly deliver a wider portfolio of healthcare solutions
beyond therapeutic and prophylactic pharmaceuticals, including diagnostic solutions."
Richard Li, Executive Director and Head of Corporate Development at COVIRIX Medical, added: "We
are proud to be the first Australian pharmaceutical company to have partnered with the dynamic
Numolux Group of South Africa to leverage on the business and investment opportunities available
from the African continent and the BRICS Alliance."
For more information on the outcomes of the Series of International Health Seminars (Malaria, Non
Communicable Diseases, Regulatory Harmonisation and Mental Health and Wellness)

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