The COMESA region is prioritizing building the capacity of laboratory facilities through supporting Member States to have adequate analytical equipment, enhanced quality management systems and targeting accreditation with reference to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and World Health Organisation (WHO PQ) requiresments. This will help foster regional cooperation and ensure access to safe, quality-assured medicines across the 21-trade bloc.

To push this process forward, COMESA Secretariat in collaboration with the AUDA NEPAD African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) Programme and other key partners, brought together regional stakeholders in Kenya from 26 – 27 August to review the requirements as a way of advancing the pharmaceutical sector.

The session included a comprehensive assessment of 15 National Quality Control laboratories across 21 COMESA Member States, forging of strategic partnerships and collaborations between Member States and Regional Economic Communities, and continued regional collaboration to strengthen national quality control laboratories and create networks for sharing analytical results.

Speaking on behalf of COMESA Secretariat, Director of Agriculture and Industry Mrs Providence Mavubi reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting health product manufacturing in the region. 

“As your Secretariat, we are committed to ensure that the regional develops its pharmaceutical sector for the benefit of the people,”

Others partners that participated in the workshop are IGAD, the United States Pharmacopoeia, Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network and Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies.