Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Affordable Medicines for Africa (AMFA)

last updated Sep 27, 2011

Overview

Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
1997
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Funders: 
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), USAID
Summary: 

Affordable Medicines for Africa (AMFA) is a South African NGO which has provided access to safe, affordable generic medications to low income populations in Africa through a network of faith-based organizations since 1997.

Program goals/rationale: 

AMFA's primary goal is to ensure a comprehensive and consistent supply of high quality affordable essential generic medicines through a timely and efficient distribution system.

Key program components: 

AMFA operates as a social outreach program and partners with Hollard Insurance Group, South Africa's largest independent insurance company. It works with local product suppliers to fulfill medicine orders in an average of 28 days. One reason AMFA is able to reduce lead times so dramatically is because their manufacturing partners are willing to fill order sizes that are smaller than most major offshore suppliers usually accept. Reduced lead times result in less product obsolescence and lower inventory costs.

AMFA operates from Johannesburg, South Africa, and ships medicine and medical supplies by air, sea, and/or truck throughout the continent. AMFA also supplies United Nations agencies in Africa, and other international relief and development agencies.

In order to expand its reach, AMFA is designing a new initiative, Pharmesa, in partnership with PHD, a pharmaceutical distributor and iPlus, which will provide sourcing expertise. The partners are currently raising funds for the launch of Pharmesa.

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