Pharmacy and Poisons Board Chair Dr John Munyu told delegates that African regulators should harmonise their systems and strengthen reliance to improve access to health products.

Speaking at the closing of the 6th PharmaReg & MedDevReg AfriSummit in Nairobi, he highlighted the need for regulatory collaboration, support for local manufacturing and stronger markets for African‑made products.

Munyu urged regulators, policymakers, manufacturers and development partners to translate the knowledge shared at the summit into improved policies, regulatory decisions and sustained partnerships.

He stressed that dependable regulatory systems protect public health, inspire confidence and ensure timely access to safe, quality, effective and affordable health products and technologies.

The chair also called on delegates to keep patients at the centre of their work and to build regulatory systems that are efficient and responsive.

Government backing for local manufacturing

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who opened the summit, noted that Africa imports more than 70 percent of the health products it consumes and urged expansion of local manufacturing to reduce supply‑chain vulnerabilities.

Duale said Kenya is implementing its 2026–2030 Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy, which aims for at least 50 percent local production of essential health products.

He added that 13 new pharmaceutical companies have commenced operations in Kenya, with some already producing products for export.

Kenya is also strengthening systems to ensure safety and traceability of health products in the market, as part of its broader regulatory improvement agenda.

The cabinet secretary said the country is working toward WHO Maturity Level 3 for regulatory oversight, strengthening regulation, surveillance and traceability.