The Manufacturing/Wholesale sector session explores how scientific innovation, regulatory reform, and supply-chain transformation will shape South Africa’s pharmaceutical sector by 2050. It focuses on three key areas: novel medicines, including precision medicine, gene and cell therapies, mRNA vaccines, AI-driven drug discovery, and treatments for priority diseases; evolving regulatory pathways, addressing advanced therapies, accelerated registration, digital health, AI, and African regulatory harmonisation; and cold-chain innovation, covering smart packaging, IoT, traceability, digital visibility, rural access, and sustainable logistics. Across these themes, the session considers South Africa’s role in local pharmaceutical innovation, manufacturing and health security, the future of medicine access and supply-chain resilience, and the skills and capabilities pharmacists and the wider workforce will need to support emerging technologies and therapies.

Key Takeaways for Delegates

• Understand emerging technologies transforming medicines development.
• Appreciate the regulatory changes required to support innovation.
• Identify future trends in pharmaceutical manufacturing and wholesale distribution.
• Recognise opportunities for South Africa to strengthen local manufacturing capacity.
• Consider the evolving role of pharmacists in a highly digitalised and innovation-driven pharmaceutical ecosystem.

Session Closing Message

The journey towards 2050 will require an innovative, digitally enabled, globally competitive, and patient-centred pharmaceutical sector. Pharmacists, manufacturers, wholesalers, regulators, and researchers must collaborate to shape a resilient future for healthcare in South Africa and across the continent.