The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has urged African governments to accelerate ratification and regulatory harmonisation to expand access to affordable medicines and unlock the continent's pharmaceutical manufacturing potential. This call comes as over 20 African Union (AU) member states have yet to ratify the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty. AHF made the call in a statement released on Friday by its Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade.
The statement was released as AMA convened its inaugural week in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 25 to October 30. The event took place against the backdrop of Africa's continued dependence on imported medicines, fragmented regulatory systems, and growing calls for African health sovereignty. According to AHF, Africa's pharmaceutical market is estimated at $30 billion, yet 70 to 95 percent of medicines consumed on the continent are imported.
AHF highlighted that presentations during AMA Week also revealed a pharmaceutical trade deficit of approximately $12.5 billion in 2020. The foundation noted that while African countries continue to spend billions importing medicines from India and other global suppliers, fragmented regulatory requirements are constraining local manufacturers' ability to scale production and access regional markets.
As of October 2026, 33 AU member states had ratified the AMA Treaty. AHF emphasized that accelerating ratification is essential to building a coordinated continental regulatory system that supports local production while ensuring access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medical products. The foundation's Executive Vice President, Penninah Iutung, commended AMA for taking a bold step towards a more coordinated regulatory environment.
Discussions during AMA Week highlighted practical barriers facing pharmaceutical manufacturers. Some of the challenges identified include unpredictable regulatory review and approval timelines, differing regulatory requirements across African countries, and duplicated submissions, assessments, and inspections. These barriers increase costs, delay access to medicines, and discourage investment in African pharmaceutical production.
AHF noted that harmonized requirements, predictable approval timelines, shared assessments, and stronger collaboration among national regulatory authorities could help manufacturers serve multiple markets more efficiently. The foundation's statement also quoted Executive Director of Global Public Health Institute, Dr. Jorge Saavedra, who emphasized the importance of establishing AMA as an investment in Africa's collective capacity to protect public health.
AHF expressed its readiness to work with African governments, AMA, scientists, universities, civil society, and industry to advance a resilient, equitable, and self-reliant African health ecosystem. The foundation's call for action aims to support the development of a robust pharmaceutical sector in Africa, ultimately enhancing access to affordable medicines and promoting health sovereignty.
Key points
- AHF urges African governments to accelerate ratification of the African Medicines Agency Treaty
- Africa's pharmaceutical market is estimated at $30 billion, with 70 to 95 percent of medicines imported
- Fragmented regulatory requirements constrain local manufacturers' ability to scale production and access regional markets
