75th WHO Regional Committee for Africa: Progress report on the implementation of the strategy for scaling up health innovations in the African region
On 27 August 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia, IFPMA delivered a statement at the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa focused on Agenda item 16.2: Progress report on the implementation of the strategy for scaling up health innovations in the African region.
IFPMA takes note of WHO AFRO’s Progress report on the implementation of the strategy for scaling up health innovations in the African region.
Health innovation is not only a driver of health equity – it is a cornerstone of economic growth and societal resilience.
Africa is home to extraordinary life sciences talent and ingenuity. We are proud to partner with institutions like the H3D Foundation, which is building world-class drug discovery capacity on the continent.
Enabling this innovation requires talent development, stable markets, and a robust and predictable policy environment that incentivizes R&D, including a strong intellectual property framework. This leads to long term benefits, including the ability to attract investment in innovation and strengthen the pharmaceutical sector base, as well as enable sustainable economic growth. Crucial to delivering this is the TRIPS agreement, which we encourage countries to fully implement.
A strong regulatory ecosystem is equally essential. We support the operationalization of the African Medicines Agency and the broader regulatory harmonization agenda, which can accelerate access to quality-assured medicines and vaccines through reliance, work-sharing, and mutual recognition. These efforts are pivotal to ensuring timely access for patients and combatting substandard and falsified medicines.
As the burden of NCDs rises, innovation must be at the heart of the response. Addressing NCDs is not only a health imperative, it is a litmus test for how effectively we can integrate innovation into health systems to deliver on Universal Health Coverage.
We stand ready to work with WHO AFRO, Member States, and all partners to ensure that the innovation ecosystems flourish, ultimately benefiting patients and societies.
About IFPMA
IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.
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To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.
