By George Morara
Kenya will partner with the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA) to fast-track the registration and approval of pharmaceutical products, in a move aimed at enhancing access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines for the public.
The announcement was made by Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ahmed Mohamed, during the Pre-Conference Industry Day of the 7th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Regulation of Medical Products in Africa (SCoMRA VII) in Mombasa.
Dr Mohamed said the collaboration will strengthen Kenya’s regulatory capacity and shorten approval timelines for essential medicines, ensuring patients access life-saving products more efficiently.
“We intend to cooperate with the Africa Medicines Agency to fast-track registration of pharmaceutical products so that we can have them on the market sooner for the benefit of the public,” he stated.
He added that the Board has already begun harmonising pharmaceutical documentation to align with continental standards — a key step towards enhancing efficiency, transparency, and regional collaboration in health product regulation.
Africa Medicines Agency Director General, Dr Delese Mimi Darko, who also addressed the forum, underscored AMA’s commitment to supporting local pharmaceutical manufacturing across Africa. She noted that increased regional production will improve access to safe, affordable, and high-quality medical products, while reducing dependence on imports.
The SCoMRA VII Pre-Conference Industry Day convened regulators, policymakers, manufacturers, researchers, and development partners from across Africa and beyond to discuss innovative approaches to strengthen and harmonise medical products regulation.
The week-long conference continues in Mombasa under the theme “Strengthening Regulatory Systems for Access to Quality, Safe, and Efficacious Medical Products in Africa,” highlighting continental progress in advancing health sovereignty through regulatory excellence.
