National Pharmaceutical Office

The National Pharmaceutical Office, or ONAPHA, was a public company that made pharmaceutical products in Burundi.

History

ONAPHA was founded in 1980 under the Ministry of Health as a public enterprise that manufactured essential medicines for the local market and for export to neighboring countries.
It was later transferred to the Ministry of Commerce and Finance.
In 1988 the government's Service in Charge of Public Enterprises was helping prepare a rehabilitation program for ONAPHA and other public companies to form the basis for performance contracts between the government and the companies.
Most prices had been deregulated and the state-owned companies were expected to compete with private companies.
In 1992 ONAPHA was manufacturing about 48 products and supplied 25% of drugs used in Burundi.
The Ministry of Health was its largest customer, spending on ONAPHA products.
It had outdated equipment and cramped premises, and was operating at 60% of its capacity.
Bottles, metal cans and other packaging were imported by air.
The government was seeking a buyer for the company.
ONAPHA was privatized in 2005.
The State Privatisation Agency organised privatisation of the company in a very transparent way.
As of March 2012 the government was negotiating with the Société industrielle pharmaceutique du Burundi, a group of Indian origin, to complete the sale of ONAPHA.