The NEPAD Agency is leading discussions on a critical law to regulate good quality and affordable medicines in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The meeting taking place from November 17 to 18 in Harare, Zimbabwe, is gathering SADC Member, various experts from Ministries of Health, National Medicines Regulatory Authorities, Ministries of Trade and Industry, Ministries of Justice, Pan African Parliament and development partners to input into a Draft Model Law on Medical Products Regulation.

Weak or non-existent regulatory systems for medical products have hampered access to affordable, safe and quality medicines on the African continent. This has led to a need for the harmonisation of medical products regulation within Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

In his opening remarks, Professor Aggrey Ambali, Head and Advisor of NEPAD Science, Technology and Innovation Hub spoke on the critical role that the Model Law will play in ensuring that there is a harmonised approach to medicines regulation to ensure public health protection through improved access to efficacious medicines on the continent. “We would like to encourage all representatives from countries, RECs and partner organisations to input into this document to ensure that member states take ownership of the Model Law,”Professor Ambali said.

Professor Ambali addressing the delegates during the opening ceremony

Workshop participants

Representing the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Mr Mbaya Abubakar stressed that Africa has a huge disease burden making economic prosperity and political stability difficult. “In recognising the socio-economic benefits of the Model Law on the continent, PAP is committed to playing its role in providing political leadership for the approval and adoption of the Model Law,” Mr Abubakar said.

SADC Member States Representatives 

The meeting is part of regional consultations across the continent to finalise the Draft Model Law.

Deliberations will take place over the next two days and the input made by all stakeholder representatives will be incorporated into the draft document.

It is expected that the final Draft Model Law will be submitted to the African Union Assembly in January 2016 for adoption.