The African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation and African Union Smart Safety Surveillance functions including associated funds, systems, contracts and obligations have been transferred from AUDA-NEPAD to the African Medicines Agency (AMA).
The media reports that speaking during the handover ceremony in Lusaka AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer, Nardos Thomas, said the milestone underscores the AU’s mandate to ensure that AMA is fully capacitated to effectively discharge its continental regulatory responsibilities.
Dr Thomas explained that the transition builds on the AUDA-NEPADS decades of experience in establishing strategic, specialised continual institutions including the African peer mechanism, smart Africa and the African committee of experts on the rights and welfare of the children among others.
“AMA is anchored in the strong legacy of our flagship health programmes, AMRH, launched in 2009, and AU-3S launched in 2020. These programmes have been the bedrock safeguarding public health and ensuring access to quality medical products across the continent,” he said.
Dr Thomas added that the accelerated and structured process is designed to ensure a smooth seamless and non-disruptive transfer, enabling AMA to fully execute its mandate and statutory functions across the continent.
Speaking at the same event, AMA Director General, Delese Darko, expressed optimism by the constructive tone shared and openness to ensure continuity for programmes.
Dr Darko added that desired public health outcomes will now be on the continent.
She further indicated that as AMA assumes its mandate, the organisation stands firm on the foundation that AUDA- NEPAD has built.
And Africa Center for Disease (CDC) Director, Jean Kaseya, stressed the need to acknowledge that the success of the two programmes is due to the foundation laid by the two organisations.
Meanwhile, the Rwandan government, as AMA host, is ready to support the office.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Emmanuel Bugingo, commended AMA for its readiness to assume its new responsibilities.
The African Medicines Agency has expanded its mandate to strengthen continental regulatory harmonization, enhance oversight of medical products, support local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and improve access to safe, effective, and quality medicines across African Union member states.