As Africa strives to develop innovative health solutions, experts urge regulatory bodies to simplify approval processes. This comes as countries across Sub-Saharan Africa race to address pressing health challenges.
The World Health Organization defines health innovations as improved policies, systems, products, and services that enhance people’s health.
A successful example is Ghana’s mPedigree system, which helps people verify medicine authenticity using their mobile phones.
However, stakeholders raise concerns over bureaucratic hurdles faced by health innovators.
They believe Regulatory Approval and Certification processes must be streamlined to accelerate access to life-saving solutions.
Robert Ssekitoleko, a biomedical engineer, emphasized the need for harmonized regulations across Africa. This would facilitate collaborative trials, transferable results, and African-led solutions to health challenges.
Ssekitoleko also called for a unified body to oversee health innovation across the continent. This entity would support the production of high-quality products for global markets.
Arox Kamng’ona, Executive Dean at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, stressed the importance of adhering to procedures to develop impactful health products.
Professor Henry Mwandumba, Director of the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, urged innovators to remain vigilant in developing innovations that bring meaningful change to health systems.
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