Scientific Conference on Medical Products Regulation in Africa (SCoMRA) Spotlights the Africa Medicines Agencies Launch, regulatory harmonization, Local pharma manufacturing growth, AfCFTA pooled procurement, AI innovation in health regulation and investment opportunities in Africa's $40B+ medical markets for health sovereignty and economic dominance.
Mombasa Kenya
READ: African Population and Health Research Center Launches ACCORDS
In Summary
As the Seventh Biennial Scientific Conference on Medical Products Regulation in Africa (SCoMRA VII) enters its final day tomorrow in Mombasa, Kenya, hundreds of regulators, policymakers, manufacturers, investors, and global partners have converged to accelerate the transition from the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) initiative to a fully operational African Medicines Agency (AMA), pledging to slash Africa's 90% reliance on imported medicines and less than 1% vaccine production through harmonized standards, AI-driven innovations, green manufacturing, and pooled procurement under the AfCFTA—unleashing a projected $40 billion-plus continental health market, fostering economic sovereignty, attracting investments via programs like PIFAH, and positioning Africa as a self-reliant powerhouse in pharmaceuticals amid calls for ratification by all 55 member states and enhanced collaboration between industry and national authorities.
The turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean lap against the shores of Mombasa's coast; a different kind of wave is building—one of economic transformation and health independence for Africa. On the second day of the Seventh Biennial Scientific Conference on Medical Products Regulation in Africa (SCoMRA VII), delegates from across the continent and beyond are not just discussing policies; they're forging a blueprint for a self-sufficient pharma sector that could redefine global supply chains. Hosted by Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board in collaboration with the African Union Commission, AUDA-NEPAD, WHO, and others, the event has drawn over 500 participants, including national regulators, industry titans, investors, and researchers, all united under the theme Regulatory Harmonisation: Unlocking Africa's Potential in Health Product Manufacturing and Trade.
From the outset, the narrative has been one of evolution. Mr. Symerre Grey, Director of Human Capital and Institutional Development at AUDA-NEPAD, set the tone by tracing the journey from the 2009 AMRH initiative to the AMA, whose treaty entered force in 2021 and is now operationalizing in Kigali, Rwanda.
"This transition is the institutional anchor that provides predictable regulatory functions and authoritative continental leadership,"
Grey emphasized in a plenary session, highlighting how 32 member states are now engaged in regulatory strengthening, with seven achieving WHO Maturity Level 3—a benchmark for reliable oversight.
As Dr. John Munyu, Chairperson of Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board, noted in his keynote, Africa's vulnerabilities were laid bare by COVID-19 and the 2024 Monkeypox outbreak, with the continent importing over 90% of its medicines and producing less than 1% of its vaccines.
"This is not just a statistic; it reflects our dependence and vulnerability,"
he said, calling for deeper harmonization to catalyze local manufacturing and intra-African trade under the AfCFTA.
Business implications loom large in these discussions, turning regulatory talk into investment gold. The African pharma market, already valued at around $30 billion and projected to exceed $40 billion by 2030, represents untapped potential for manufacturers and financiers.
Participants Group photo| Credits AUDA-NEPAD X(formerly twitter)
Side events like the Programme for Investment and Financing in Africa's Health (PIFAH) stakeholders' dinner buzzed with optimism, where Grey declared,
"Africa’s health sovereignty will not be gifted to us—it will be built by us. Through partnerships that align innovation, investment, and regulation, we can turn our health challenges into industrial and economic opportunities."
Investors are eyeing opportunities in pooled procurement mechanisms, which could lower costs and stabilize supply chains, while harmonized regulations promise faster market access and reduced barriers for local firms. Kenya, for instance, showcased its export prowess at exhibition booths featuring macadamia nuts, teas, essential oils, and herbal products under the #MadeInKenya brand, signaling how regulatory alignment can boost trade.
Innovation is another cornerstone, with sessions delving into digitalization, artificial intelligence, and green manufacturing. Experts urged collaboration on bioequivalence testing to ensure generic drugs match originals, while AI tools were touted for streamlining approvals and detecting counterfeits. Dr. Mimi Darko, AMA's inaugural Director-General, stressed ratification by the remaining 24 of 55 member states to make AMA truly continental, adding that building national regulatory capacities and data systems is crucial.
"The strength of AMA lies in our NRAs—they are our champions," she said, advocating for an enabling environment for local industries to thrive.
Kenya's commitment shines through, with three PPB experts seconded to AMA and pledges to fast-track registrations in partnership with the agency.
As the conference winds down tomorrow, the expected outcomes are poised to deliver: strengthened collaborations, strategic actions for manufacturing and procurement, and a shared vision under AMA. Pledges from panels, including insights from the Continental Pilot on Listing of Human Medicinal Products, underscore the need for dialogue between regulators and industry to enhance efficiency and transparency.
ALSO READ LATEST BUSINESS & INVESTMENTS NEWS
For businesses, this means a more predictable landscape, ripe for investments in factories producing lifesaving drugs, diagnostics, and devices. With partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GIZ, and CEPI backing these efforts, SCOMRA VII isn't just ending—it's igniting Africa's ascent from dependency to dominance in the global health economy, where regulatory harmony unlocks billions in trade and secures a healthier, wealthier future.African Medicines Agency, Pharma Manufacturing Africa, AfCFTA Health Trade, Regulatory Harmonization
READ MORE HEALTH NEWS
