76th WHO Regional Committee for Africa: Regional strategy on regulation of medical products in the African region, 2026-2035

On 26 August 2026, IFPMA delivered a statement on the regional strategy on regulation of medical products in the African region, 2026-2035, during the 76th WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

IFPMA welcomes the proposed Strategy on Regulation of Medical Products, and commends WHO AFRO, Member States, and regional institutions for their commitment to continue strengthening regulatory systems across the continent.

Central to this endeavour is the consistent application of internationally recognized regulatory standards, guidelines, and best practices across African regulatory systems. The Africa Medicines Agency (AMA) is uniquely positioned to champion their adoption and provide leadership in translating these standards into harmonized continental procedures, thereby promoting regulatory convergence, strengthening trust in regulatory decisions, and supporting more efficient and predictable pathways for access to medical products.

We emphasize the need for effective, timely partnerships that engage industry throughout development of policy and regulatory processes. Industry brings valuable practical and technical expertise to strengthen regulatory capacity, digitalization, reliance, and AMA operationalization across the continent. We look forward to continued collaboration in implementing this important strategy, combatting illicit, substandard and falsified medicines and advancing equitable access to medical innovation across the African Region. The innovative pharmaceutical industry remains committed to meaningfully partnering with WHO, national regulatory authorities (NRAs), regional economic communities (RECs), AMA, and other stakeholders.