The 7th Biennial Scientific Conference on Medical Products Regulation in Africa (SCoMRA VII) ended in Mombasa with an emphatic call for faster, deeper, and more coordinated regulatory harmonisation across the continent.
Closing the three-day meeting, Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Chairman Dr John Munyu applauded delegates, regulators, partners, and industry players for what he described as “a highly productive and collaborative gathering.” He praised Mombasa as a warm and inspiring host, providing the right atmosphere for strategic continental dialogue.
Dr Munyu underscored the breadth and depth of discussions that took place, highlighting concrete progress made in strengthening regulatory systems, advancing reliance mechanisms, and improving access to safe, quality-assured medical products. He noted that insights from key thematic sessions — including the continental pilot on medicines listing, digital transformation, post-market surveillance, and capacity building — had delivered “clear, practical pathways for implementation.”
He commended the African Union, AUDA-NEPAD, the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA), Regional Economic Communities, National Medicines Regulatory Authorities, development partners, and private-sector actors for their steadfast commitment to the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (AMRH) programme.
“The spirit of partnership and collective responsibility demonstrated here reaffirms our shared goal of a stronger, more harmonised, and more responsive regulatory ecosystem for Africa,” Dr Munyu said.
The PPB Chair emphasised that recommendations from SCoMRA VII will shape continental regulatory priorities over the next two years, especially as Africa accelerates the operationalisation of the African Medicines Agency and scales up key harmonisation initiatives.
He urged Member States, Heads of Agencies, and technical teams to advance the commitments made in Mombasa “with renewed energy, urgency, and accountability.”
Dr Munyu also extended gratitude to the Organising Committee, rapporteurs, moderators, session chairs, and technical teams for delivering a seamless conference. He further thanked the Government of Kenya and the PPB for providing exceptional hospitality and logistical support.
“As we close, let us carry forward the momentum, unity, and innovation showcased in Mombasa,” he said, wishing participants safe travels and expressing confidence in a successful 8th Biennial SCoMRA Meeting in Senegal.
