Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79) side event
Advancing medical products regulation in Africa
Building a harmonized and resilient regulatory ecosystem through the African Medicines Agency–WHO collaboration.
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Event details
The Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly takes place at a pivotal moment for global and African health systems. Universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness and access to quality-assured medical products are closely linked to strong and harmonized regulatory systems.
This high-level side event, jointly organized by the African Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization, provides a strategic forum to mobilize political leadership, accelerate regulatory reforms, advance AMA Treaty ratification and support sustained investment in regulatory systems strengthening.
- Emphasize the importance of strong regulatory systems for universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness and equitable access to quality medical products.
- Highlight collaboration among national regulatory authorities, regional economic communities and the African Medicines Agency.
- Engage Ministers of Health and partners on political and financial commitments.
- Catalyze ratification, domestication and implementation of the AMA Treaty.
- Launch and sign the AMA–WHO Framework Agreement for Collaboration and Joint Operational Plan 2026–2030.
- Improved ministerial awareness of regulatory systems’ role in public health.
- Strengthened political and financial commitment.
- Better alignment among AMA, WHO, countries and partners.
- Increased momentum for AMA Treaty ratification and regulatory reliance.
- Formal launch of the AMA–WHO Joint Operational Plan.
- African Ministries of Health.
- WHO headquarters, WHO Regional Office for Africa and WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.
- African Medicines Agency, African Union Commission, Africa CDC and AUDA-NEPAD.
- Key partners, including the European Medicines Agency, UNITAID, Gates Foundation and US Pharmacopeia.
Programme
Opening and introductions
Start of the event, introduction of the Directors-General of WHO and AMA, and co-moderation of the side event.
Dr Rogerio Gaspar, WHO; Dr Yossounon Chabi, AMA Governing Board.
Welcome remarks
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO.
AMA operationalization
Welcome remarks and updates on AMA operationalization.
H.E. Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Director-General, AMA.
Opening remarks from WHO Africa
Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Ministers and senior health officials will discuss political leadership, AMA Treaty ratification, regulatory reliance, local medical products manufacturing and Africa’s health security.
H.E. Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, Minister of Health, Rwanda;
H.E. Dr Ali Ghamrawy, Chairman, Egyptian Drug Authority, Egypt;
H.E. Dr Ibrahima Sy, Minister of Health and Social Action, Senegal;
H.E. Dr Ussene Hilário Issé, Minister of Health, Mozambique.
Partner perspectives on advancing AMA
Roles, contributions and shared commitments.
Emer Cooke, European Medicines Agency; Robert Matiru / Dr Philippe Duneton, UNITAID; Dr David Mukanga, Gates Foundation.
Reflections and reactions from the floor
Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
Official launch and signing ceremony
Official launch and signing ceremony of the AMA–WHO Framework Agreement for Collaboration.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO; H.E. Dr Delese Mimi Darko, AMA; moderated by Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO.
Closing session
Consolidation of key messages, shared commitments and priority next steps.
Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO; H.E. Dr Francine Dekandji, Secretary of State for Health, Chad.
Group photo
All participants.