The Republic of Rwanda Signs the Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicine Agency (AMA)

12th June 2019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

The Republic of Rwanda became the first AU Member State to sign the Treaty for the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) on 12th June 2019. The AMA Treaty was adopted on 11 February 2019 by the African Union Assembly during their 32nd Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The African Medicines Agency (AMA) will serve as the continental body that will provide regulatory leadership, to ensure that there are harmonized and strengthened regulatory systems, which govern the regulation of medicines and medical products on the African continent. Further it will regulate access to safe, effective, good quality and affordable essential medicines and health technologies. AMA will do this through coordination of on-going regulatory systems, strengthening and harmonizing efforts of the AUC, RECs, Regional Health Organizations (RHOs) and Member States.

The Treaty will enter into force once ratified / acceded to by fifteen African Union Member States.

Member States are able to sign the Treaty at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa as well as at the upcoming 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly in July 2019, in Niamey, Niger.

Further information on the AMA Treaty should be directed to:

• Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission; and
• Dr. Margaret Agama-Anyetei, Head of Division for Health, Nutrition and Population; Social Affairs Department; AU Commission; Tel: +251115162211; E-mail: Agama-AnyeteiM@africa-union.org