The African Medicines Agency receives support from the European Union and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Spread over five years, these 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 programme work of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), aimed at strengthening the capacities of drug regulatory bodies and improving health safety on the continent. It also aims to "promote dependency practices, the pooling of scientific expertise and more effective and efficient processes".

Following the announcement, AUDA-NEPAD's Chief Executive , Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, says: "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 realisation comes at an opportune moment given the urgent need for the continent to meet the demand for safe, effective and quality medical products for its population."

This declaration also supports the work of the African Medicines Agency Treaty Alliance (AMATA), a group of 55 organisations created 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 signatory countries of the Lomé Initiative and Brazzaville Foundation welcome the commitment of the EU and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in line with the programme 2022-2024 work plan of the initiative. The strengthening of institutional partnerships and the implementation of national plans to combat falsified and substandard medicines are essential in the fight against this scourge, at both regional and national levels.

Read the press releases from the European Commission and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.