How to Procure Medicines for African Hospitals from a UK Supplier

Hospitals across Africa face a persistent challenge: the medicines their patients need are not always available locally. Whether the product is out of stock with regional distributors, not registered in the country, or simply not manufactured on the continent, the result is the same — procurement teams must look abroad.

The United Kingdom is one of the most reliable sources for pharmaceutical exports to Africa. UK wholesalers operating under MHRA Wholesale Dealer Authorisation follow Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards, hold medicines in temperature-controlled facilities, and can prepare the export documentation that African regulators require. Euro Biom is one such supplier, based near London Heathrow with a WDA covering both licensed and unlicensed medicines.

This guide walks through the import process for the six largest pharmaceutical markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, explains what documentation you should expect from a UK supplier, and covers the logistics of getting medicines from Heathrow to your hospital or warehouse.

Importing Medicines into Nigeria

The Regulator: NAFDAC

Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) oversees all pharmaceutical imports. Any hospital, pharmacy or distributor importing medicines into Nigeria needs a NAFDAC import permit before the goods leave the UK.

The import permit application requires a pro-forma invoice from the UK supplier, the product's Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CPP), the manufacturer's certificate of analysis (CoA), and evidence that the importer holds a valid NAFDAC premises licence. For products not registered with NAFDAC, a special import waiver can be obtained if the hospital demonstrates clinical need and local unavailability.

Customs clearance at Lagos or Abuja typically takes 3 to 7 working days once the shipment arrives, provided the NAFDAC permit is in order. Delays usually stem from incomplete documentation rather than regulatory refusal, which is why working with a UK supplier experienced in Nigerian exports makes a meaningful difference.

Importing Medicines into Kenya

The Regulator: Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB)

Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board regulates all medicine imports. Importers must hold a valid PPB import licence and submit an import permit application for each consignment. The permit application includes the product details, quantity, supplier credentials and intended end use.

Kenya also requires pre-shipment verification of conformity (PVoC) for certain pharmaceutical products. This means an independent inspection body verifies that the goods meet Kenyan standards before they leave the UK. Your UK supplier should be familiar with this requirement and coordinate with the inspection body as needed.

For products not registered with PPB, hospitals can apply for a special import licence under Section 28 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act. This covers named patient medicines, emergency supplies and products needed for clinical trials. The process typically takes 5 to 10 working days.

Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport handles the majority of pharmaceutical air freight from the UK, with direct flights from Heathrow providing a transit time of roughly 8 hours. Read more about sourcing medicines for Kenya.

Importing Medicines into Ghana

The Regulator: Food and Drugs Authority (FDA Ghana)

Ghana's FDA oversees pharmaceutical imports through a permit system. Every medicine entering Ghana requires an FDA import permit, which is tied to a specific product, quantity and supplier. The importer — whether a hospital, distributor or government procurement body — must be registered with FDA Ghana.

Ghana has been expanding its regulatory capacity significantly over the past decade and was one of the first African countries to achieve WHO Maturity Level 3 for its medicines regulatory system. This means the import process is well-structured but thorough. Expect the FDA to verify the product's registration status, the manufacturer's GMP certification and the exporter's wholesale licence before issuing the import permit.

For unregistered medicines, Ghana's FDA permits special importation where there is documented clinical need. The application must include a letter from the prescribing physician, evidence of local unavailability, and full product documentation from the manufacturer.

See our Ghana pharmaceutical supply page for more details on documentation requirements.

Importing Medicines into South Africa

The Regulator: SAHPRA

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) manages all medicine imports into South Africa. The regulatory framework is among the most developed on the continent, and the requirements reflect that.

Registered medicines can be imported by any SAHPRA-licensed pharmaceutical company using a standard import permit. The process is relatively straightforward for products already on the SAHPRA register. For unregistered medicines, Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act allows import under a special authorisation. This is commonly used for named patient supply, where a treating physician applies to SAHPRA for permission to import a specific medicine for a specific patient.

South Africa's Section 21 process is well-established and widely used. The application requires a prescription from the treating doctor, a motivation letter explaining why the registered alternative is not suitable, and supplier documentation from the UK exporter. Turnaround is typically 10 to 15 working days, though urgent cases can be expedited.

Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport is the main entry point for pharmaceutical air freight, with overnight direct flights from Heathrow. More on supplying medicines to South Africa.

Importing Medicines into Ethiopia

The Regulator: EFDA

Ethiopia's Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) regulates pharmaceutical imports through a combination of product registration and import permits. The country has been investing heavily in its regulatory infrastructure and healthcare system, with pharmaceutical imports growing year on year.

Importers must be registered with EFDA and hold a valid import licence. Each consignment requires a separate import permit, supported by a pro-forma invoice, CPP, CoA and GMP certificate from the manufacturer. EFDA also requires that the product labelling meets Ethiopian standards, including information in English (Amharic labelling may be required for retail products).

For hospital procurement, the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS) handles a significant portion of centralized purchasing. Individual hospitals and private facilities can also import directly with the appropriate EFDA licence. Read more about pharmaceutical supply to Ethiopia.

Importing Medicines into Tanzania

The Regulator: TMDA

Tanzania's Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) oversees pharmaceutical imports. The import permit process follows a similar structure to other East African regulators: the importer submits product details, supplier credentials and intended quantities, and TMDA issues a permit if satisfied.

Tanzania is a member of the East African Community (EAC), which has been harmonising pharmaceutical regulations across member states. This means regulatory requirements are gradually aligning with those in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, making it easier for UK suppliers to prepare documentation that satisfies multiple East African regulators simultaneously.

For unregistered medicines, TMDA allows special import permits for products needed for named patient supply or public health emergencies. The application must demonstrate that no suitable registered alternative is available locally. More on supplying medicines to Tanzania.

What Your UK Supplier Should Provide

Regardless of the destination country, the documentation your UK supplier prepares will largely be the same. The specific combination varies by regulator, but a competent UK pharmaceutical exporter should provide all of the following as standard:

Logistics: Getting Medicines from Heathrow to Africa

One of the advantages of sourcing from a UK supplier based near London Heathrow is the direct flight connectivity to major African cities. Heathrow has direct or one-stop routes to Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam and many other African capitals.

For temperature-sensitive medicines — including oncology treatments, vaccines and certain diabetes products — cold chain logistics are critical. Your UK supplier should use validated cool boxes or active temperature-controlled containers depending on the required temperature range (2–8°C or 15–25°C). Temperature monitoring devices should be included in every shipment so you can verify the cold chain was maintained on arrival.

Euro Biom dispatches from its facility near Heathrow, which means medicines can be on a flight to Africa within hours of the order being confirmed. For emergency and named patient orders, same-day dispatch is standard.

Payment and Forex Considerations

Currency is a real challenge for many African buyers. The Nigerian Naira, Kenyan Shilling and Ghanaian Cedi have all experienced significant volatility against the British Pound in recent years. This affects procurement planning and budgeting.

Most UK pharmaceutical suppliers invoice in GBP or USD. Some practical approaches to managing forex risk include requesting fixed-price quotations valid for 30 days, negotiating payment terms that allow time for currency conversion, and working with your bank's trade finance team to secure forward exchange contracts for large orders.

For government and institutional buyers, letters of credit (LCs) through local banks are a common payment mechanism. Your UK supplier should be comfortable working with LCs and able to provide the documentary compliance banks require.

How to Choose the Right UK Supplier

Not every UK pharmaceutical wholesaler can export to Africa effectively. When evaluating suppliers, look for these indicators:

• MHRA WDA covering export: Confirm the supplier's Wholesale Dealer Authorisation explicitly covers international supply, not just domestic distribution.
• Unlicensed medicines capability: If you need products not registered in your country, the supplier must hold a WDA that covers unlicensed medicines.
• African market experience: A supplier who has exported to NAFDAC, PPB or SAHPRA before will know the documentation quirks and common delays.
• Heathrow proximity: Access to Heathrow means faster dispatch, more flight options and lower domestic transport costs.
• Cold chain infrastructure: GDP-compliant storage and validated shipping containers are non-negotiable for temperature-sensitive products.

Euro Biom holds MHRA WDA(H) 59239, operates from Unit-5 Skyport Drive near Heathrow, and supplies medicines to hospitals and distributors across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania and 40+ other countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Nigerian hospitals import medicines from the UK?

Nigerian hospitals obtain an import permit from NAFDAC, submit product documentation from the UK supplier (including CPP and CoA), and clear the shipment through customs with the NAFDAC permit. For unregistered medicines, a special import waiver is available where the hospital demonstrates clinical need.

What documents does a UK pharmaceutical supplier provide for export to Africa?

A UK supplier with MHRA WDA provides a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CPP), certificate of analysis, UK export certificate, GDP compliance records, commercial invoice, packing list and cold chain validation records where applicable.

How long does it take to ship medicines from the UK to Africa?

Air freight from Heathrow to Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg or Addis Ababa takes 6 to 11 hours in transit. Total lead time including documentation and customs clearance is usually 5 to 10 working days. Emergency orders can be dispatched same day.

Can African hospitals buy unlicensed medicines from the UK?

Yes. Most African regulators permit special imports of unregistered medicines for named patient supply, emergency use or compassionate access. The UK supplier must hold an MHRA WDA covering unlicensed medicines, and the importing hospital applies to their regulator for a special import permit.