African Drug Agency set to Launch – AU
The African Drug Agency will start operating soon. The African Union (AU) disclosed this news in Lomé last Tuesday. It was during a panel of experts organised as part of the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa.
“The treaty was adopted in 2019. We needed 15 countries, and now we have 23 countries that have ratified the treaty for this drug agency,” said Dr. Minata Samaté Cessouma, Commissioner for Health at the AU. “We are working to mobilize money and operationalize the agency,” he added.
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Mainly, the upcoming African drug agency will help African industries deploy their strategies. It will also support local production, in addition to regulating Africa’s pharmaceutical industry and strengthening existing legislation.
Many experts affirm that one of the major obstacles this agency will face is providing African consumers with quality drugs at affordable prices. According to these critics, the agency will also have a hard time convincing African people to adopt “made in Africa” products.
The African Drug Agency will be headquartered in Rwanda. African leaders agreed on this location last July, during a meeting held in Lusaka, Zambia.
SOURCE: Togo First
