Africa-Press – Ethiopia. African leaders have called on all 55 African Union (AU) member states to ratify the treaty establishing the African Medicines Agency (AMA), stressing that full political commitment and sustained funding are crucial to secure safe, quality medicines across the continent.
Meeting in Addis Ababa, leaders underscored that while 31 countries have ratified the treaty, broader participation is essential for the agency to operate at full continental scale.
AMA Director-General Dr. Delese Mimi Darko emphasized the urgency of political support and financial contributions, noting that fewer than 35 ratifications would limit the agency’s reach.
She stressed that AMA’s vision is to ensure Africans have timely access to safe, effective and quality-assured medical products.
The agency seeks to harmonize regulatory systems, strengthen oversight of clinical trials, enhance market surveillance, and support local pharmaceutical manufacturing — a move seen as critical to reducing dependency on external suppliers.
AU Special Envoy for AMA Michel Sidibé described the current ratifications as a major milestone but stressed that implementation must follow signatures.
He warned that reliance on external regulatory systems exposes the continent to risks and delays, calling AMA a cornerstone for Africa’s regulatory sovereignty and health security.
Leaders pledged to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure universal ratification, accelerate operationalization of the agency, and strengthen Africa’s capacity to respond to future health emergencies.
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