Brussels, 15 February 2022 - The European Union (EU) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) are pledging more than €100 million to support the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) ahead of the 6th EU-AU Summit.
Spread over five years, the funds will be used to achieve the public health and safety objectives of the African Union's specialised agency, such as local production of pharmaceuticals and strengthening their regulation.
This initiative is part of the African Union Agency for Development and Cooperation (AUDA-NEPAD) work programme to build the capacity of drug regulatory agencies and improve health safety on the continent. It also aims to "promote dependency practices, the sharing of scientific expertise and more effective and efficient processes".
Following the announcement, AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive, Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, said: "Africa has taken an important step by establishing the African Medicines Agency as a continental body that will work with RECs and member states to strengthen the regulatory landscape for medical products. This achievement is timely given the urgent need for the continent to meet the demand for quality, safe and effective medical products for its population.
The statement also supports the work of the African Medicines Agency Treaty Alliance (AMATA), a group of 55 organisations established by IAPO, to advocate for the ratification and implementation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) treaty and for meaningful engagement of patients and other stakeholders in all aspects of the agency's framework.
The Lomé Initiative countries and the Brazzaville Foundation welcome the commitment of the EU and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in line with the 2022-2024 work programme of the initiative. The strengthening of institutional partnerships and the implementation of national plans to combat falsified and substandard medicines are essential to fight this scourge, at regional and national levels.
Read the press releases from the European Commission and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
