The West Africa Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (WA-MRH) initiative has adopted key strategic decisions to enhance regulatory convergence and improve access to quality-assured medical products across the ECOWAS region.
The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) announced this on its official X account on Friday, following the conclusion of the 17th WA-MRH Steering Committee Meeting held in Lomé, Togo.
According to WAHO, a major outcome of the meeting was the presentation and approval of the WA-MRH Sustainability Plan 2026–2030, designed to ensure the initiative’s long-term viability and effectiveness.
“The plan outlines measures for sustainability through stronger political ownership, sustainable financing, and alignment with the African Medicines Agency,” the organization stated.
WAHO said the meeting focused on strengthening regulatory convergence, improving access to quality medicines, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the initiative throughout ECOWAS.
It added that representatives from National Medicines Regulatory Authorities of 11 ECOWAS member states attended the two-day meeting, alongside regional and international partners.
Participants included UEMOA, the African Medicines Agency, the NEPAD Agency, the World Health Organization, and experts from WAHO.
The statement noted that participants reviewed progress since the previous steering committee meeting and assessed the implementation of the initiative across member states.
“Discussions highlighted significant achievements through the regional joint assessment mechanism, including increased participation by local and international manufacturers and improved collaboration among regulatory authorities.
“Capacity-building and twinning programs have been implemented to enhance regulatory performance across the region, strengthening the technical skills of national regulators,” it said.
WAHO reported that the committee approved nine variation applications for registered medicines and adopted a regional guideline for renewing medicines registration across member states.
The committee also approved the 2026 work plan, which will guide activities, priorities, and targets for the coming year.
“Progress reports from Expert Working Groups on Medicines Registration and Medical Devices showed several new product dossiers and variations assessed through the regional joint assessment procedure.
“Assessments via this joint procedure are helping improve access to safe, effective, and quality medicines within ECOWAS,” it added.
The committee discussed challenges such as delays in obtaining regional recommendations and national marketing authorizations, limited submissions to the joint assessment, and insufficient human resources for joint activities.
WAHO said several recommendations were adopted to accelerate implementation, including digitalising the joint assessment process to reduce timelines and boost efficiency.
Other suggestions included regular virtual steering committee meetings, revising governance and regulatory frameworks, and developing a regional reliance mechanism to enhance cooperation.
The organization also emphasized increasing awareness among manufacturers and suppliers of medical products to encourage greater participation in the regional assessment process.
WAHO’s sustainability plan highlights closer alignment with the continental regulatory framework led by the African Medicines Agency to promote a unified African regulatory system.
WAHO Director-General Dr. Melchior Aissi reaffirmed the organization’s role in advancing health policy harmonization and regulatory systems across ECOWAS states.
He called for stronger collaboration among countries involved in pilot initiatives and greater institutional recognition of regional mechanisms to ensure sustainability and long-term impact.
Aissi expressed appreciation to WAHO, member states, and technical and financial partners, reaffirming commitment to accelerating WA-MRH implementation across West Africa.
He concluded that the initiative remains a vital tool for safeguarding public health and advancing pharmaceutical regulatory integration in the region.
