Dr Reddy's, Lupin, others mull expanding Africa operations

Change in South African regulation to drive further growth

Domestic pharmaceutical companies are expanding their Africa operations with product launches in new markets.

In FY17, Indian drugmakers exported medicines worth $3 billion to Africa and the continent is the second-largest export market for Indian companies after the United States.

According to health-care service provider QuintilesIMS, the overall African drug market is estimated to grow from $20 billion in 2016 to $30 billion by 2021. Much of the projected growth will come with a change in regulations, increase in health spending and a rise in demand for medicines to treat chronic and lifestyle-related ailments.

One such change in regulation came into force in