WHO and African Medicines Agency sign framework agreement for collaboration

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Medicines Agency (AMA) have signed a new Framework Agreement for Collaboration aimed at strengthening regulatory systems and improving access to quality-assured health products across Africa.

The agreement was signed on the margins of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) by AMA Director-General H.E. Dr. Delese Mimi Darko and WHO Director-General H.E. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The partnership is intended to advance regulatory harmonization, convergence, and reliance among African health authorities, while also strengthening surveillance systems against substandard and falsified medical products.

It further seeks to support capacity building for regulatory institutions and health workforce development, promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation, and streamline approval processes for essential medicines and health products.

Officials stated that the collaboration is a key step toward enhancing Africa’s preparedness for public health emergencies, including future pandemics, by ensuring timely access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines and vaccines.

The agreement is also expected to contribute to the development of a more resilient and integrated regulatory ecosystem across the continent, with potential global implications for health governance and medical product regulation.