By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African Medicines Agency
(AMA) and Medicines for Africa (MFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) aimed at strengthening continental coordination in advocacy and
communication to combat substandard and falsified medical products across Africa.
The agreement establishes a
framework for collaboration that will enable AMA to leverage Medicines for
Africa’s advocacy and communication expertise to raise awareness and mobilise
stakeholders at national, regional and global levels on the dangers posed by
poor-quality and falsified medicines.
Speaking at the signing
ceremony, AMA Director General Dr. Delese Mimi Darko said addressing the
challenge of substandard and falsified medical products requires stronger
regulatory systems, enhanced collaboration and sustained public engagement.
The partnership seeks to
combine AMA’s role in regulatory harmonisation and medical product quality
monitoring with Medicines for Africa’s patient safety advocacy to promote
access to safe, quality and effective medical products across the continent.
Medicines for Africa Founder
and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Lenias Hwenda said the collaboration reflects a
shared commitment to placing patient safety at the centre of Africa’s medicines
agenda.
The two organisations said
the partnership is expected to strengthen public confidence in medical products
while supporting efforts to build more resilient health systems and improve the
regulation of medicines across Africa
