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The African Union (AU) says it is set to formalise the handover of two critical health programs to the African Medicines Agency (AMA), marking a significant milestone in the continent’s drive toward stronger and more robust health systems.
The African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) and African Union Smart Safety Surveillance (AU-3S) programs are being transferred to AMA, reinforcing Africa’s capacity for medicines regulation and public health oversight.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency, emphasized the significance of the transition.
“This milestone underscores our mandate as the African Union’s premier continental development agency to ensure that AMA is fully capacitated to effectively discharge its continental regulatory responsibilities,” she said.
Bekele-Thomas noted that the handover ceremony, scheduled for January 22–23, 2026, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka, will feature top leaders, including the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Director-General of Africa CDC.
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“This accelerated transition and handover build on our decades of experience in establishing and sustaining continental institutions,” she said.
She added that the move was expected to enhance access to quality medicines and healthcare across Africa, aligning with Agenda 2063 and the African Union’s long-term development objectives.
Dr. John Nkengasong, Director-General of Africa CDC, welcomed the handover, saying, “This is a proud moment for Africa, and we look forward to working with AMA to strengthen our health systems.”
Nkengasong explained that the African Medicines Agency would now take the reins of regulating medicines and medical products, ensuring their safety, efficacy, and quality.
“As Africa continues to drive transformational development, health remains a key pillar, and this milestone marks a significant step forward in achieving that goal,” he said.
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