African countries need to work together much more closely to make sure people get safe, effective and affordable medicines and medical devices. That was the message from Dr John Munyu, Chairperson of Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), at the close of a continental regulators' summit.

The summit

The 6th PharmaReg & MedDevReg AfriSummit 2026, a three-day meeting on regulating medicines and medical devices, brought together national regulators, regional and international bodies, development partners and industry leaders.

Closing the summit, Dr Munyu said its success would depend on what happens next. "The true value of this Summit will ultimately be measured not by the number of presentations delivered," he said, but by the action regulators take to ensure Africans have "timely access to quality, safe" health products.

Support for local manufacturing

Opening the summit, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale called for:

  • harmonising regulations across African countries
  • regulators relying on each other's approvals to avoid repeating the same work
  • more support for local pharmaceutical manufacturing
  • stronger markets for health products made in Africa

Why it matters

Africa imports most of its medicines and vaccines, which leaves it exposed when global supplies tighten, as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weak or uneven regulation also makes it easier for substandard and fake medicines to reach patients.

When countries share standards and trust each other's approvals, new medicines can reach patients faster, local manufacturers can sell across borders, and it becomes harder for fake products to slip through. The continent is building this cooperation through regional bodies and the African Medicines Agency.

What it means for you

For Kenyan patients, stronger regulation should mean fewer fake drugs on pharmacy shelves, faster access to new treatments and, in time, cheaper medicines made closer to home. Buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies, check packaging for signs of tampering, and report suspicious products to the PPB.