African countries have created the Africa Medical Supplies Platform, to offer medical supplies like test kits, protective equipment and potential vaccines through a single online marketplace platform.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said that it “will address shortages and security of supply, ensure price competitiveness and transparency in procurement, reduce logistical delays, simplify payment processes and provide a common platform where governments can access services from quality and certified suppliers”.

The platform is set to be run as a non-profit by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Ethiopia and Afreximbank in Egypt, which is already managing a $3.8bn Covid-19 fund for the continent. This fund would be used to cover freight costs so that small and remote countries such as the Seychelles would pay the same prices as Senegal.

The platform is set to be run as a non-profit by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Ethiopia and Afreximbank in Egypt, which is already managing a $3.8bn Covid-19 fund for the continent. This fund would be used to cover freight costs so that small and remote countries such as the Seychelles would pay the same prices as Senegal.

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention