The African Medicines Agency (AMA), an organization recently established by the African Union (AU) to promote the regulation of medical products throughout the continent, is set to commence its operations in Rwanda. Rwanda was chosen to host the AMA following a meeting of the AU Executive Council in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2022. Many AU member states, including Rwanda, have already ratified the treaty creating the continental agency and deposited their legal instruments of ratification with the AU Commission.
On June 10th, Rwanda and the AU signed a host country agreement, a significant step forward for the AMA. Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, the Minister of Health, explained the key role the agency would play in fostering confidence in Africa’s medical production, facilitating the movement of health products, and promoting regulatory cooperation and mutual recognition of decisions. He also disclosed that the Rwandan government had provided the facility where the AMA would operate, and that several processes would follow the signing of the host agreement, including the selection of leaders for the institution and the installation of facilities such as laboratories.
According to Minata Samate Cessouma, the AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, the AMA is expected to make significant contributions to the quality, safety and efficacy of medicine on the continent, as well as improve Africa’s access to quality safe and healthy medical products.
