ACCESS Health International participated in the 7th Biennial Scientific Conference on Medical Products Regulation in Africa (SCoMRA VII), convened by AUDA NEPAD. This year’s conference marked a significant milestone for the continent as the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (AMRH) initiative formally transitioned into the African Medicines Agency (AMA). This development represents a crucial step toward achieving a more coordinated, efficient, and collaborative regulatory environment for medical products across Africa.
The opening ceremony brought together distinguished leaders shaping the future of health governance on the continent. Attendees included H.E. Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Kenya; H.E. Abdulswamad Sherif, Governor of Mombasa County; H.E. Amb. Amma Adomaa Twum Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the African Union Commission; and H.E. Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, Director General of the African Medicines Agency.
In her keynote address, Director General Darko outlined AMA’s strategic priorities for the next 18 months. These priorities include securing the full participation of all 55 African countries, strengthening rather than replacing national regulatory authorities, and investing in capacity building to align regulatory systems with the continent’s growing public health and industry needs. Her remarks underscored AMA’s commitment to fostering a harmonised and responsive regulatory ecosystem that can support innovation and increase access to quality medical products.
Discussions throughout the conference also highlighted the essential role of local manufacturing in creating a resilient health ecosystem. Insights from the pilot phase of the product listing initiative demonstrated the strong link between regulatory robustness and manufacturing capacity. As Africa continues to expand its pharmaceutical and medical products landscape, the development of synchronised regulatory frameworks will be vital to ensuring equitable and sustainable access to essential health products.