The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has launched a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with The United States Pharmacopeia Convention (USP) to expand access to quality-assured medical products in Africa
The MoU, signed at the Africa Health Business Symposium, promises to increase regional manufacturing, strengthening enabling regulatory and market environments, and bolstering clinical and public health laboratory networks.
USP has committed 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 recognised regulatory approvals and supporting 34 laboratories to receive global accreditations.
Nicaise Ndembi, Africa CDC’s senior science advisor, commented, “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. It is through collaborations like these that we can build off of lessons learned, expand Africa’s own expertise, and work toward achieving improved health equity across the continent.”
Key areas of collaboration will include:
• Supporting increased production of quality-assured vaccines, diagnostics, and medical products;
• Strengthening clinical and public health laboratory systems and networks;
• Reinforcing regulatory systems for vaccines, diagnostics, and medical products;
• Supporting workforce development and continental competency frameworks related to laboratory strengthening, regulatory strengthening, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
