SOUTH AFRICA— The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the United States Pharmacopeia Convention (USP), have announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance regional manufacturing and strengthen regulatory and laboratory systems in Africa.
The MOU was announced at the just concluded Africa Health Business (AHB) symposium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The MOU calls for the expansion of access to quality-assured medical products in Africa by increasing regional manufacturing, strengthening enabling regulatory and market environments, and bolstering clinical and public health laboratory networks.
Dr. Nicaise Ndembi, Africa CDC’s Senior Science Advisor said, “We know it is possible for Africa to produce more of the diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics that are so vital to the health and well-being of Africans.”
Dr. Ndembi also noted that through collaborations like the one with USP, Africa CDC could build off lessons learned, expand the continent’s own expertise, and work toward achieving improved health equity across the continent.
Under the scope of the MOU, key areas of collaboration will include, supporting increased production of quality-assured vaccines, diagnostics, and medical products through technology transfer, improvements in manufacturer compliance with current good manufacturing practices, and market-shaping strategies.
The MOU also calls for strengthening clinical and public health laboratory systems and networks through continued improvements in workforce competency, sustainability modelling, and achievement of relevant accreditations.
Additionally, USP will help strengthen regulatory systems for vaccines, diagnostics, and medical products by advancing regulatory maturity, improving regulatory harmonization, and improving regulatory policies and legislation, among other areas.
Furthermore, the MOU will help support workforce development and continental competency frameworks related to laboratory strengthening, regulatory strengthening, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Dr. Emily Kaine, USP’s Senior Vice President, of Global Health and Manufacturing Services noted that producing medical products in Africa, closer to where they are needed was a public health imperative.
“USP is proud to collaborate with Africa CDC to realize the increasing momentum and commitments for regional manufacturing into sustainable growth and to support Africa CDC on their journey to enact the vision of the New Public Health Order,” Dr. Kaine reiterated.
The Africa CDC is the driving force behind the African Union’s New Public Health Order and serves as a major continental convener through the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing and other initiatives.
Through PAVM, Africa CDC is at the forefront of advancing the production of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics on the African continent through various initiatives such as the new MOU with USP.
Through this MOU, USP commits to supporting Africa CDC’s efforts to improve health equity through expanded manufacturing and strengthened health systems.
This collaboration will leverage USP’s decades-long work in both areas which has resulted in more than 70 products achieving WHO prequalification or other internationally recognized regulatory approvals and supporting 34 laboratories to receive global accreditations.
USP on the other hand is an independent, scientific non-profit organization focused on building trust in the supply of safe, quality medicines. We are working to strengthen the global supply chain so that the medicines people rely on for health are available when needed and work as expected.
USP has 14 offices across 16 countries and has implemented global health programs in 90+ countries worldwide.
Recently, Swipha Nigeria, a Nigerian Pharmaceutical company, received technical support from USP to receive WHO prequalification for its Zinc Sulphate.
Thanks to USP support, this made Swipha’s Zinc Sulphate, the first pharmaceutical product and manufacturer to receive WHO Prequalification in West Africa.
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