About AMATA
The African Medicines Agency Treaty Alliance (AMATA) is a multi-stakeholder alliance set up to advocate for the ratification and implementation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty and for meaningful engagement with patients and other relevant parties, in all aspects of the Agency framework.
The idea of the alliance was born in view of the urgency unveiled by COVID-19 where IAPO saw the need to support African patient organisations access to safe and quality vaccines, medicines, personal protection equipment, health devices and diagnostic kits to face present and future pandemics.
Together with a group of 46 organisations (now 55), IAPO issued in February 2021 a Multi-stakeholder Call for AU Heads of State to Ratify the AMA Treaty. The Call highlighted the importance of including in the governance of the future Agency, a mechanism to engage with a range of stakeholders who would benefit from regulatory harmonisation and could bring their expertise to the discussion.
The Multi-stakeholder Call was inspired by the Entebbe Statement, an earlier declaration made by patient organisations at IAPO’s Patient Regional Congress in Uganda in 2017, calling for early drafting, adoption and ratification of the AMA Treaty and advocating for patient engagement in all aspects of the Agency framework.
Vision
Equitable access to quality, safe, efficacious medicines and technologies for a healthy Africa.
Mission
To strengthen the African pharmaceutical regulatory system for timely access to innovative, safe, quality, and effective medicines and medical devices that are accessible for better pandemic preparedness.
Goal and Objectives
Goal: To coordinate and galvanize non-State actor engagement with the African Medicines Agency.
Objectives:
- Accelerate ratification and implementation of the AMA Treaty.
- Bring the voices of patients to regulatory decision-making tables, address barriers and influence regulatory frameworks for the benefit of affected patients.
- Develop a framework for meaningful involvement of multi-stakeholders including technical experts in regulatory harmonisation.
- Advocate for the promotion of a comprehensive institutional, legislative, policy and standards framework for the regulation of health products at Member State level.
- Promote regulatory convergence and reliance mechanisms to ensure quality delivery of services.
- Promote research, development and introduction of new medical products that will guarantee quality safe and fast access.
- Build the capacities of patient groups and other non-State actors on the value of strong regulatory systems including the establishment of AMA.
Activities
AMATA will achieve the objectives outlined above through the following activities, which will be revisited as needed:
- Advocate for ratification and deposition of instruments to bring into force the AMA Treaty.
- Act as a hub for up-to-date information about the ratification and implementation process, and for tools and information to advocate for AMA. Social media channels will play a key role in disseminating this information. Members will provide and disseminate information to the general public, patients, healthcare professionals, decision-makers and media about the merits of AMA and outline opportunities for action at the local, national, and international levels.
After ratification of the Treaty, Members of the Alliance will be called on a voluntary basis to:
- Advocate for the establishment of AMA and its full operationalisation within the African regulatory ecosystem.
- Advocate for AU Member States to integrate the AMA treaty into their respective domestic law.
- Represent the Alliance in meetings of relevant Technical Working Groups of the Agency (Art. 20 of the AMA Treaty).
Membership
Membership is open to local, regional, national or international organisations that are committed to ensuring African patients have timely access to safe and quality medicines and health devices, and believe that AMA is the most appropriate Pan-African organisation to help achieve this.
Eligible organisations include:
- Patient and community health related organisations.
- Non-governmental and other civil society organisations engaged in African health development.
- African health professional associations like those representing doctors, nurses, community health workers and pharmacists.
- African academic and research bodies.
- Non-State actors in official relationship with the WHO and their African Members or chapters.
- Public-private partnerships, including medicines and health devices.
- African and international trade associations.
How to Join
If your organisation wishes to join the Alliance you should return a completed Application Form: along with information about your organization (including its background, activities, aims and objectives etc.) to amata@iapo.org.uk.
Joining organisations will be required to agree to the Terms of Reference and the Multi-stakeholder Call for AU Heads of State to Ratify the AMA Treaty (February 2021).
Download the membership application form
Steering Committee
AMATA’s activities will be governed and supervised by a Steering Committee that comprises of representatives from its members. The Committee consists of a cross section of stakeholders that include:
- Patient Groups / Civil Society Organisations.
- Non-Governmental Organisations.
- Industry Associations.
- Research / Academia Networks.
- Youth and Advocacy Groups.
Steering Committee Members
- Amref Health Africa
- Association of African Universities North Africa Regional Office
- International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations - IAPO
- International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations - IFPMA
- International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation - IPSF
- NCD Alliance Kenya
- PATH
- Speak up Africa
- University of the Witwatersrand
Updates
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28 August 2024: AMATA Statement at the 74th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa – Michele Mayuba, Chair of the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF), read the statement on behalf of AMATA.
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15 February 2024: Call to Heads of State of the African Union to Ratify and Operationalise the African Medicines Agency Treaty
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26 July 2023: AMATA in conversation with key opinion leader Chimwemwe Chamdimba, African Medicines Regulation Harmonization Programme Head
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1 February 2023: AMATA Statement at Executive Board 152 on Substandard and falsified medical products (Agenda item 152.7)
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14 December 2022: Statement at the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2022) - AMATA Kigali Declaration
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28 September 2022: AMATA in conversation with key opinion leader Hon. Michel Sidibé on the shaping of the African Medicines Agency
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19 July 2022: AMATA welcomes the decision for Rwanda to host headquarters of African Medicines Agency
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27 April 2022: AMATA in conversation with key opinion leader Dr. Margaret Agama-Antyetei on the shaping of the African Medicines Agency
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25 May 2022: Amref Health Africa AMATA Statement to the 75th World Health Assembly
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25 May 2022: PATH AMATA Statement to the 75th World Health Assembly
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25 May 2022: International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation AMATA Statement to the 75th World Health Assembly
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5 February 2022: Video Statement to mark the 35th AU Summit 2022
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5 November 2021: Joint Statement by AMATA welcoming the African Medicines Agency coming into force
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4 February 2021: Call to Heads of State of the African Union to Ratify the African Medicines Agency Treaty