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Rabat – Morocco has ratified the treaty for the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) at African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“As a member of the African Union and a regional leader in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in terms of infrastructure, technology and experience acquired over the years, Morocco remains very committed to the high quality of medicines and is aware that the health and safety of the African citizen depend on quality medicinal products and effective drugs,” said Mohamed Arrouchi, Morocco’s Ambassador to the African Union.
Arrouchi participated today in the treaty’s ratification ceremony along with the Africa Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Minata Samate.
African leaders initiated AMA in February 2019 during the 32nd session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa. The agency seeks to harmonize regulatory requirements in African pharmaceutical markets, encourage knowledge sharing between countries, and expand access to effective, safe, and quality medicines for patients to support the continent’s fight against health crises.
By March 2020, fifteen African countries had signed the treaty for the establishment of the AMA including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana.
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The ratification of the AMA treaty comes as Africa continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, Arrouchi underlined.
He reaffirmed Morocco’s readiness to support the African Medicine Agency operations as well as other development initiatives across the continent.
Since its return to the African Union in January 2017, Morocco has called for regional solidarity to tackle socio-economic and health crises.
In February this year, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita called for “a united Africa,” explaining that “African solidarity is essential to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on African economies.”
Bourita commended the role of the African Union’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in securing millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Morocco’s active role within the AU secured it a seat in one of the continental organization’s main decision-making bodies, the Peace and Security Council. Two-thirds of the African Union Executive Council members voted in favor of Morocco’s candidacy.
