Building trust in medicines across Africa

Access to safe, effective and affordable medicines is fundamental to public health. Yet across many African countries, patients and health professionals still face the daily risk of encountering products that are ineffective or even dangerous. Substandard and falsified products continue to circulate, particularly where regulatory systems are fragmented or under-resourced.

Ensuring that medicines are safe is not only a technical issue. It is a matter of trust – trust in pharmacies, in hospitals and in health systems as a whole. Strengthening the quality and safety of medical products and the pharmaceutical ecosystem is key to protecting patients and ensuring no one is put at risk.

From a shared vision to reality

For more than a decade, Enabel has been working with African partners to strengthen medicines regulation and promote cooperation across borders. This long-term engagement contributed to a major milestone: the creation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA).

Adopted by the African Union in 2019 and operational since 2025, AMA is designed to support national regulators, align standards and improve the quality and safety of medicines and health technologies across the continent. Throughout its development, Enabel supported the process by facilitating dialogue among partners, contributing technical expertise and helping align international support with African priorities.

“Africa’s future will be defined not just by ambition, but by whether we build systems that work, for regulators, for the industry, and most importantly, for patients” said Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Director-General of the African Medicines Agency. 

Today, as the Agency moves from establishment to full operation, Enabel continues to accompany this African-led initiative – helping turn a shared vision into practical action.

Building strong foundations at country level

Turning a continental vision into real change for people’s health requires strong national systems that can ensure the quality of every medicine reaching families, clinics and hospitals. This is where Enabel’s contribution becomes essential.

In Mauritania, Enabel supports national authorities in improving regulatory procedures and strengthening quality control mechanisms. This helps ensure that medicines reaching pharmacies, clinics and health facilities meet safety standards – including in remote areas where oversight is more challenging.

In Senegal, Enabel supports regulatory authorities in reinforcing their frameworks and practices, helping them align with continental standards and engage more effectively in regional and African regulatory initiatives. Together, these efforts contribute to building the foundations on which AMA can operate effectively.

Bringing partners together for greater impact

Alongside country-level support, Enabel plays a key role in coordinating partners at continental level. As Chair of the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (AMRH) Partnership Platform, Enabel brings together funders, technical partners and stakeholders to align support and promote a shared approach to regulatory strengthening.

Through the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa (TESS MAV+), led by Enabel, this coordination role is further strengthened. With the support of European agencies, Member States and the European Commission, TESS MAV+ helps align European support with African priorities, facilitates dialogue between partners and provides targeted assistance to regulatory authorities.

By connecting technical support, political dialogue and funding, TESS MAV+ is a central pillar of Africa’s progress toward safer, better regulated medicines – demonstrating how Team Europe can add real value when it works as one.

From supporting the creation of the African Medicines Agency to strengthening national regulators and coordinating partners, Enabel contributes to building a stronger regulatory ecosystem across Africa. By connecting local action with continental ambition, Enabel helps ensure that medicines can be trusted through safer health systems and better health outcomes for all.