Kenya is deepening its commitment to improving access to safe and affordable medicines through a new partnership with the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA), aimed at speeding up the registration and approval of pharmaceutical products.
Speaking during the Pre-Conference Industry Day of the 7th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Regulation of Medical Products in Africa (SCoMRA VII), held in Mombasa on 11th November 2025, Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ahmed Mohamed, announced the partnership Describing it as a milestone in the country’s journey to strengthen its health systems and regulatory capacity.
He noted that faster approvals will help ensure that life-saving medicines reach patients without unnecessary delays.
“We intend to cooperate with the Africa Medicines Agency to fast-track registration of pharmaceutical products so that we can have them on the market sooner for the benefit of the public,” he said.
He added that the Board has already begun harmonising pharmaceutical documentation to align with continental standards, a move that will enhance efficiency, transparency, and regional cooperation.
According to Dr. Mohamed, the partnership will not only shorten the time it takes to approve essential medicines but also strengthen Kenya’s capacity to regulate health products in line with global best practices.
“By working with AMA, we are building a system that can serve both our citizens and the wider African community more effectively,” he said.
Africa Medicines Agency Director General, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, welcomed the collaboration, saying AMA is committed to supporting local pharmaceutical manufacturing across the continent.
She noted that increasing local production would help improve access to safe, high-quality, and affordable medicines while reducing Africa’s dependence on imports.
“Strengthening local capacity is key to achieving self-reliance in health product supply,” Dr. Darko said. “AMA remains dedicated to supporting countries like Kenya to build robust systems that guarantee the safety and efficacy of medical products.”
The SCoMRA VII Pre-Conference Industry Day brought together regulators, policymakers, researchers, manufacturers, and development partners from across Africa to share ideas on strengthening medical product regulation.
This year’s week-long conference, themed “Strengthening Regulatory Systems for Access to Quality, Safe, and Efficacious Medical Products in Africa,” highlights the continent’s growing focus on health sovereignty through regulatory excellence and regional cooperation.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) of Kenya is the national regulatory authority established by the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, Cap 244.
Its primary role is to regulate the pharmacy profession and the trade in drugs and poisons to ensure the public is protected from substandard products.
The board is responsible for setting and enforcing standards for the safety, efficacy, and quality of all drugs, chemical substances, and medical devices used in Kenya.
