Kenya will collaborate with the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA) to accelerate the registration and approval of pharmaceutical products, in a move aimed at improving access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines across the country.
The announcement was made by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), Dr. Ahmed Mohamed, during the Pre-Conference Industry Day of the 7th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Regulation of Medical Products in Africa (SCoMRA VII), taking place in Mombasa.
Dr. Mohamed said the partnership will strengthen Kenya’s regulatory capacity and reduce approval timelines for essential medicines, ensuring that patients access life-saving products more quickly.
“We intend to cooperate with the Africa Medicines Agency to fast-track the registration of pharmaceutical products so that they can reach the market sooner for the benefit of the public,” he stated.
He further noted that the Board has already begun harmonising pharmaceutical documentation to align with continental standards — a crucial step towards improving efficiency, transparency, and regional collaboration in the regulation of health products.
Addressing the forum, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, Director General of the Africa Medicines Agency, reaffirmed AMA’s commitment to supporting local pharmaceutical manufacturing across Africa. She emphasised that increasing regional production will enhance access to safe, affordable, and high quality medical products, while reducing dependence on imports.
The SCoMRA VII Pre-Conference Industry Day brought together regulators, policymakers, manufacturers, researchers, and development partners from across Africa and beyond to explore innovative approaches for strengthening and harmonising medical product regulation.
The week-long conference continues in Mombasa under the theme, “Strengthening Regulatory Systems for Access to Quality, Safe, and Efficacious Medical Products in Africa,” highlighting the continent’s ongoing efforts to advance health sovereignty through regulatory excellence.
