In a groundbreaking move to address the global scramble for Covid-19 medical supplies, African nations have united to launch the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP), a non-profit online marketplace designed to provide equitable access to test kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), and future vaccines.
Unveiled on June 18, 2020, by South African President and African Union (AU) Chair Cyril Ramaphosa, the platform is hailed as a “silver lining” to the pandemic and “the glue that is going to bind the continent together.”
A Unified Response to a Global Crisis
The AMSP, developed under the leadership of AU Special Envoy Strive Masiyiwa, operates like eBay or Amazon, enabling AU Member States to purchase certified medical supplies with cost-effectiveness and transparency.
Ramaphosa emphasized that the platform will “address shortages and security of supply, ensure price competitiveness, reduce logistical delays, and simplify payment processes” by connecting governments with vetted suppliers.
As of June 2020, Africa had recorded 275,327 Covid-19 cases and over 7,400 deaths, with South Africa accounting for more than a third of infections.
The continent’s testing rate, averaging 1,669 tests per million people, lags significantly behind countries like Iceland (173,029), the US (44,123), and the UK (31,592), due to global test kit shortages.
“Testing and lockdown are two sides of the same coin,” Masiyiwa said, highlighting the platform’s role in boosting testing capacity to reduce reliance on costly lockdowns.
Economic and Logistical Innovations
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) estimates that lockdowns cost Africa $65 billion monthly.
Vera Songwe, ECA’s executive secretary, noted that the AMSP could save up to $40 billion by enabling mass testing, potentially easing lockdown measures.
The platform, managed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Ethiopia and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Egypt, leverages a $3.8 billion Covid-19 fund to cover freight costs, ensuring small nations like the Seychelles pay the same prices as larger ones like Senegal.
Ethiopian Airways and South African Airways will facilitate shipments to hubs in Addis Ababa and Johannesburg, maximizing volume to lower costs.
Masiyiwa emphasized, “What we do is demonstrate the power of volume, which we as Africa always have known we can unleash.”
The platform prioritizes continental suppliers, such as South Africa’s Invicta, which pledged 10,000 affordable ventilators, and Senegal’s $1 rapid test kits, while also sourcing from global markets like China.
Financial Support and Future Prospects
Afreximbank offers credit lines to financially strained governments, and potential international debt forgiveness could further fund supplies.
The AMSP, initially piloted to supply drugs for maternal and child health, serves as a precursor to the African Continental Free Trade Area, delayed from July 2020 to January 2021 due to the pandemic.
This initiative showcases Africa’s collective market power, representing 1.3 billion people.
A Model for Global Collaboration
Ramaphosa praised the AMSP as a testament to “African excellence, creativity, and collaboration,” developed with partners like Africa CDC, Afreximbank, ECA, and Janngo, with support from China, Canada, and France.
Masiyiwa noted that the platform’s innovative approach has drawn interest from other regions, with requests to license the AMSP model globally.
As Covid-19 cases rise and economies falter, the AMSP stands as a critical tool to strengthen Africa’s health systems and economic resilience, ensuring equitable access to life-saving supplies.
