The African Medicines Agency : Vision and Strategy for the African Continent

The African Medicines Agency (AMA) creates an unprecedented opportunity for improved regulatory reliance and strengthening resulting in speeder access to medicines and vaccines for people throughout the continent. Moreover, it represents, for many countries, the promise of the development of local production, and the development, across the continent,of centers of excellence for research, the strengthening and security of supply chains, for the maintenance of a healthy environment and the fight against falsified medicines.

The Agency’s functions are clearly defined, but a common vision and strategy remain to be built and more member states need to sign and ratify the treaty establishing the African Medicines Agency to make it operational.

In this framework, and at the initiative of the African Union Special Envoy for AMA, Mr Michel Sidibé, the International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO), the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Associations and Manufacturers (IFPMA) and the French Pharmaceutical Companies Association (LEEM) are co-organizing a high-level roundtable on 22 June, with Ministers of Health of African countries, and representatives from various stakeholders, namely international organizations, patient associations the pharmaceutical industry and the European Medicines Agency.

 

Introductory remarks by: 

• Mr. Philippe Lamoureux, Managing Director of Leem 

• Mr. Greg Perry, Assistant Director General, IFPMA 

• Mr. Kawaldip Sehmi, Chief Executive Officer, IAPO 

 

Roundtable moderated by Michel Sidibé, African Union Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency. 

• Dr. Margareth Ndomondo Sigonda, AMRH Coordinator, AUDA NEPAD

• Dr. Lotfi Benbahmed, Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry, Algeria

• Dr Moustafa Mijiyawa, Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Togo

• Dr. Jean-Jacques Mbungani Mbanda, Minister of Health, Hygiene and Prevention, Democratic Republic of Congo

• Dr. Hala Zayed, Minister of Health and Population, Egypt*

• Dr. Arlindo Nascimento do Rosário, Minister of Health, Cabo Verde

• Ms. Emer Cooke, Executive Director, European Medicines Agency

• Dr. Karim Bendhaou, Chair of Africa Engagement Committee, IFPMA

• Ms. Bisi Bright, Board Member, Nigeria, IAPO

* to be confirmed