The African Union has launched a high-level push for the remaining 24 member states to ratify the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty, warning that regulatory gaps continue to leave the continent vulnerable to substandard and falsified drugs.
At a summit in Addis Ababa, leaders emphasized that while 31 nations have signed on and the Kigali headquarters is operational, the agency requires universal participation to effectively safeguard Africa’s 1.4 billion people.
To lead by example, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay announced a $200,000 contribution, urging larger African economies to match this financial commitment to ensure the agency’s sovereignty.
Tunisia’s Health Minister, Dr. Mustapha Ferjani, underscored that Africa’s health security is inseparable from its regulatory independence.
The AMA is envisioned not just as a health watchdog, but as a primary driver of industrialization and trade under the AfCFTA.
By unifying medical standards, the agency aims to boost investor confidence in local pharmaceutical manufacturing and strengthen Africa’s collective bargaining power in the global market.
Currently, the lack of a unified system forces many countries to rely on external regulators, delaying access to life-saving treatments.
Since its adoption in 2019, the AMA has transitioned from a legal framework to a functioning institution.
Director General Dr. Delese Mimi Darko outlined a roadmap for 2030 that includes achieving WHO-listed status and financial self-reliance.
As global health challenges like antimicrobial resistance and future pandemics loom, AU leaders framed the treaty’s ratification as an “imperative” rather than an option.
The focus now shifts to whether the remaining states will act swiftly to close the gaps and unlock the benefits of a unified African medicines market.
