E-DRUG: USAID MTaPS Webinar - Regional Harmonization of Medicines Regulation: Reaping Benefits Beyond Borders
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Dear e-Druggers,
I am writing to share below the announcement of our upcoming webinar on
regional harmonization of medicines regulation on *November 10, 2021, at 9
am EST.
Thank you,
Refiloe (on behalf of USAID MTaPS)
Regional Harmonization of Medicines Regulation: Reaping Benefits Beyond
Borders
Register here:
msh-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsdeivrz0rGdYmzhO99hTGho7RCoqNnWJa
Access to safe, effective, quality-assured medicines, vaccines, and other
essential medical products is at the heart of a robust health care system
that can deliver quality health care services. Countries in Africa are
disproportionately affected by poor quality medicines and inequities in
access to treatment - the less than 1% COVID-19 vaccination rate in
low-income countries versus more than 50% in high-income countries is a
stark example. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable
to disruptions in medicine supply, with 70 to 90% of their medicine needs
met by imports. Poorly functioning and fragmented national medicine
regulatory agencies are a foundational problem behind the lack of
accessibility to quality-assured medical products.
Harmonizing medicines regulation regionally across countries is a
transformative and urgent initiative for health care. It provides the
impetus for convergent and harmonized medicine regulation at the
continental level, facilitating the work undertaken by the newly
established African Medicines Agency.
The rewards promise to be big, but the road to get there is long.
Join us on Wednesday, November 10, 9:00 to 10:30 am EST, to learn what
regional regulatory harmonization of medicines offers and the ongoing
efforts in Africa where MTaPS is engaged. Hear from global, regional, and
national actors at a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities
to expedite the journey toward regulatory harmonization in Africa.
Setting the Stage*
Kate Kikule, Pharmaceutical Regulatory Systems Lead, USAID MTaPS
Moderator
Tamara Hafner, Global Learning Agenda Lead, USAID MTaPS
Panelists
Margareth Sigonda, Health Coordinator, African Union Development
Agency New Partnership for Africa's Development
Dr. Samvel Azatyan, Team Lead, Regulatory Convergence and Networks, World
Health Organization
Dr. Anthony Toroitich, Medicine Regulatory Harmonization Specialist,
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (invited)
Sybil Ossei, Professional Officer in Charge, Essential Medicines and
Vaccines, West African Health Organisation (invited)
Dr. Fred Siyoi, CEO of Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya Ministry of Health
(invited)
Dr. Wilberforce Wanyanga- Board Member-Federation of African Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers Association (invited)
Register here:
msh-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsdeivrz0rGdYmzhO99hTGho7RCoqNnWJa
Refiloe Mabejane
Communications Officer, USAID Medicines, Technologies, and
Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program
Management Sciences for Health
US-VA-Arlington-All United States
E-mail: rmabejane@msh.org