In a major step toward strengthening healthcare collaboration between China and West Africa, the Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) Association has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TAT KA WAI HONG Pharmaceutical Group (Stock Code: 301126) of China.
The signing ceremony, held on October 13, 2025, at the HCOWA Association Headquarters, La Trade Fair, Accra, marks a defining moment in cross-border healthcare innovation and sustainable pharmaceutical development.
The strategic partnership aims to optimize and modernize the medical supply chain across West Africa, accelerating the creation of a resilient and intelligent pharmaceutical supply network that ensures the steady availability of essential medicines across hospitals and healthcare facilities in the region.
Strengthening the lifeline of West Africa’s healthcare
The agreement addresses one of the most pressing healthcare challenges in West Africa, which is the inconsistent supply of essential medicines.
Through this partnership, HCOWA and TAT KA WAI HONG will work together to develop a smart medical supply chain that uses artificial intelligence to support hospital detection, diagnosis, and treatment systems.
This innovative model will improve efficiency in the management, distribution, and deployment of pharmaceutical products while supporting better diagnosis, faster treatment, and stronger disease prevention outcomes across the region.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Sihong Jiang, President of the HCOWA Association, who signed the MOU on behalf of the Association, described the partnership as “a milestone in HCOWA’s mission to advance healthcare across the continent.”
“This MoU lays the foundation for a transformative partnership that connects regional health needs with advanced pharmaceutical solutions,” she said.
She added, “It symbolizes our collective commitment to strengthening healthcare systems, promoting research collaboration, and improving patient outcomes throughout West Africa.”
“Our goal is to build a reliable and intelligent healthcare ecosystem where hospitals, clinics, and patients can benefit from timely access to life-saving medicines. Through technology, we can bridge supply gaps and bring modern healthcare within everyone’s reach,” she further highlighted.
A shared vision for smart health development
Ms. Lilian Lin, Deputy General Manager of the International Business Division of TAT KA WAI HONG Pharmaceutical Group, lauded HCOWA’s leadership in advancing medical innovation in Africa.
“This partnership goes beyond the overseas circulation of medicines; it’s about building trust, technology, and transformation,” she noted.
“Together, we are using AI-driven medical big data to reshape how healthcare products are delivered, monitored, and used in West Africa.”
She further explained that the collaboration represents a fusion of innovation and compassion, combining China’s advanced pharmaceutical technologies with HCOWA’s deep understanding of the regional healthcare landscape.
According to her, the establishment of a unified supply platform and overseas warehouse in Ghana aims to make high-quality medicines more accessible, affordable, and efficiently distributed throughout West Africa.
TAT KA WAI HONG Pharmaceutical Group is a modern healthcare conglomerate integrating new drug research, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, pharmaceutical distribution, retail pharmacy chains, and specialised reproductive and genetic medicine services.
The Group operates a 130-acre industrial campus with a 70,000 m² logistics complex, and in 2024 recorded an annual revenue of $756 million and pharmaceutical throughput exceeding $2 billion.
Its Intelligent Logistics Centre, valued at nearly $60 million, spans 50,000 m² and combines smart warehousing systems with advanced digital management.
It includes cold, cool, and temperature-controlled facilities, enabling seamless digitalised management from inbound to outbound logistics.
The Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) is a regional organisation dedicated to transforming healthcare systems through artificial intelligence (AI) and promoting the regionalisation and modernisation of healthcare in West Africa.
Through partnerships with governments, hospitals, and international enterprises, HCOWA works to enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve hospital service delivery, and drive sustainable growth of the medical and pharmaceutical industry across the subregion.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to building an AI-enabled medical health supply chain and overseas warehouse in Ghana that promotes open growth, supports the importation and localisation of international pharmaceutical products, and strengthens medicine production capacity in West Africa.
This initiative is expected to integrate the pharmaceutical strengths of multiple nations, creating a more reliable and efficient medical supply system that will serve as a model for future regional healthcare cooperation.
