Review of Strategies for the Development and Support of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry in Afghanistan
Key words: Development, Medicine, Production, Support, Strategies, Solutions
Aqa Mohammad Zhakfar
Abstract
The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is a vital and economically significant sector worldwide, ranking second after the food industry. Access to essential and high-quality medicines remains a critical public health challenge in Afghanistan. Domestic pharmaceutical production currently meets only about 10% of national demand. The country lacks facilities for producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs); existing pharmaceutical factories, mostly private, manufacture only finished dosage forms. Afghanistan exports no medicines, and there is no research-based pharmaceutical industry. Most drugs used in the country are imported, with low-quality products raising concerns among prescribers and users. This article aims to provide a review of the spice production industry in the country, utilizing credible scientific sources, along with solutions for its development and support. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the development of the spice production industry in Afghanistan means improving access to high-quality spices within the country. The potential contribution of domestic spice production is seen as the only solution to increasing the availability of essential medicines in Afghanistan. Furthermore, government support, both in terms of incentives and financial assistance, is considered a major factor in the growth and development of the spice production industry in the country.
