Some African Drug and Food regulatory agencies have convened in Abuja brainstorming on how to have a single database of information on drug and food regulations on the Africa continent.
The event, which kick-started on Monday, was organized by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in collaboration with the Nigeria National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the discussion which focuses on the regulations of COVID-19 vaccines and other health issues in Africa, is targeted at ensuring Smart, Safety and Surveillance (AU-3S) of all the regulated products.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Moji Adeyeye, dislosed that AU-3S had become a mini umbrella the agency would be relying upon for information sharing of each country.
“We are linking our activities in tackling substandard, falsified medicine to what AU-3S is doing, safety and quality efficacy. In Nigeria, we are putting together mechanism to control the quality of medicines in particular.
She said NAFDAC was using traceability in Global Standard one (GS1) in driving technology and actually using it as part of safety monitoring in Nigeria.
Dr June Raine, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), United Kingdom (UK) Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), stated that the initiative would bring about effective regulation and support for technical expertise.
Mrs Delese Darko, CEO, Food and Drug Authority, Ghana, said that it would bring about strong capacity in each country’s existing programme.
Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, CEO South Africa Health Products and Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), stated that the initiative would bring about update on information sharing, and improvement to other therapeutics areas.
Dr Dan Hartman, Director, Integrated Development Global Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, stated that the initiative would assist in moving to a world where seamless transfer of data and knowledge was possible.
Mr Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, said that the initiative would assist policy makers in making decision.
According to him, a good decision can make the healthcare delivery across Africa and the world very easy.
