Health and Population Minister Hala Zayed announced on Monday that Egypt has joined the Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), saying her ministry seeks to make Cairo the agency's headquarters. Speaking during a press conference in the presence of a representative of the African Union for the AMA, Zayed noted the treaty encourages African countries to strengthen their local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacities. The AMA aims to unify the laws and legislation related to registering pharmaceuticals and marketing medicines in African countries as well as upping investment in the pharmaceutical industry, Zayed pointed out. Egypt will offer support for turning the African agency into a great edifice to serve the African continent, the minister underlined, adding the treaty will be ratified by African leaders in the coming African summit. Establishing the AMA is meant to improve medical capacity in the continent and address a deficiency in drug production and challenges posed by counterfeit and substandard products. Once it is created, it is expected that the AMA will supervise and absorb roles currently carried out by other bodies, such as regional harmonisation efforts and pan-AU creations such as the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation Initiative and the African Vaccines Regulatory Forum. The Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicines Agency was adopted by the AU in February 2019. It requires 15 ratifications from AU member states to come into effect.
