He said there is the need to lessen the burden in the requirement processes of registration of pharmaceutical companies emanating from unnecessary bureaucratic regimes and to allow supply commodities to reach out to the masses, who needed them most.

Mr Carli was contributing to a panel discussion on “Cancer and Fertility care Capacity Building in Africa and Asia as part of the fifth edition of the “Merck Africa Asia Luminary” conference, ongoing in Dakar, Senegal.

The two-day event coincides with the first Anniversary of Merck Foundation and the 350 year milestone of Merck Germany.

About 58 countries, mainly from Africa and Asia are participating in a conference organized by Merck Foundation, and it is attended by some First Ladies of Africa including Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Ministers of Health, the academia, industry players and development partners.

He wondered how a product could pass for consumption in the UK and US but treated with suspicion, when the same products find its way into Africa.

“With the same product, same pack, same manufacturing site, where lies the suspicion of sub-standard supplies,” he asked.

He said BioPharma beyond two years has been unsuccessful to normalize process for registration for the introduction of products onto the Ghanaian market, describing the procedure as rather cumbersome.

He reiterated a strong commitment to improving access with affordable quality products to Africa.

He said the company has gained access to some African countries with the supply of some drugs for non-communicable diseases including Ghana, Senegal Nigeria, Ethiopia and some francophone and Portuguese speaking countries on the continent.

Dr Abduoulaye Diouf Sarr, Senegalese Minister of Health and Social Action, called for dialogue among member states towards taking another look at the regimes and requirements for registration of medical pharmaceuticals while maintaining strict control measures to guard against fake drugs.

He urged member states to collaborate with Merck Foundation and take advantage of stepping up capacity building, create access for infrastructure and personnel to man emerging cases in the field of oncology, diabetes, fertility and hypertension.

He said some 6,376 people mostly women were diagnosed of cancer with a mortality rate of 72 percent.

He said if we fail to move fast, there could be a looming danger ahead and called for partnership with the Foundation and other development partners.

He said with the framework of case management capacity building, in line with the establishment of the national oncology institute, plans are afar to begin the production of cancer drugs in earnest, while government continues to subsidize drugs that impact on women.

Dr Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and President of ‘Merck More Than A Mother campaign’, the humanitarian arm of Merck-Germany, believes the Foundation’s partnership with First Ladies and their offices was positive to bring the needed services to all especially women.

She said the impact of their programmes and projects was colossal and called for a change in attitudes and improvement in facilities and health personnel saying this would ease the high disease burden in Africa and Asia.

Maxwell Awumah, GNA Correspondent Dakar, Senegal