Seychelles signs the African Medicine Agency (AMA) Treaty

Vice President Vincent Meriton signed the Africa Medicine Agency (AMA) Treaty on the sidelines of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, being held from 9th to 10th February 2020, at the seat of the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This treaty once ratified by fifteen Member States of the African Union will execute its role as the regulatory body through regulatory leadership that ensures harmony and strong regulatory systems that oversee supervision and regulations of medicines and medical products in Africa.
Following the signing of this important treaty, Vice President Meriton stated that “Small Island Developing States such as Seychelles, often pay a premium for the procurement of essential medical supplies. The smallness of our market and our geographic isolation mean that we are often an afterthought in the business of medicines procurement.”
The African Medicines Agency provides an opportunity for African nations to strengthen their capacity for regulation of medicines, to ensure safe and affordable access to quality medical products.
In his final remark, Vice President Meriton, stressed that “being the 13th Member to sign this Treaty, Seychelles, takes this opportunity to call on other African nations to come forward and give the support needed to operationalize this much awaited and long overdue endeavour.”