During the inaugural meeting of the North Africa Medicines Regulatory Harmonization Initiative (NA-MRH), hosted by Egypt from February 18 to 20, Egypt was elected as the president of the initiative for the next three years. Morocco was elected as vice-president, and Tunisia was appointed for the technical secretariat role. This reflects international, African, and regional trust in Egypt’s pharmaceutical regulatory system, underscoring the Egyptian Drug Authority’s high institutional standards, which have earned it multiple international accreditations and memberships in globally recognized pharmaceutical organizations.
The meeting, held in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the World Health Organization (WHO), brought together national regulatory authorities for medicines from North African countries and international experts in the field. Distinguished figures such as Mrs. Shimwemwi Chamdemba, Head of the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) Program from AUDA-NEPAD, and Dr. Huda Langer, WHO Regional Advisor for Access to Medicines and Vaccines, participated in the event, underscoring the importance of cooperation across the African continent for better pharmaceutical regulation.
The meeting was a testament to the growing role of Egypt in the pharmaceutical regulation field, highlighted by the country’s recent achievement of receiving the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Third Maturity Level” accreditation for its regulatory system. The session discussed enhancing regional collaboration, harmonizing regulatory procedures to streamline drug registration, ensuring the safety and quality of medicines, and fostering the development of unified legal and technical frameworks. The initiative’s role in promoting pharmaceutical integration among member states was also emphasized.
Dr. Ali El-Ghamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, stressed the importance of regulatory cooperation between North African countries to harmonize and streamline drug registration processes. This would facilitate quicker access to essential medicines and strengthen regional pharmaceutical security.
El-Ghamrawy reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting regional initiatives that enhance regulatory systems, in line with the African Union’s vision for the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA). He emphasized that such collaboration would not only enhance the role of regulatory authorities in the region but also provide opportunities to develop regulatory policies, improve healthcare quality, speed up drug registration, and further solidify Egypt’s role as a regional hub for pharmaceutical production and regulation.
This initiative aligns with Egypt’s ongoing efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, contributing to the improvement of public health and ensuring the availability of medicines and vaccines at affordable prices across Africa.
