KHF welcomes the African Medicines Agency Treaty Cabinet approval

The Kenya Health Federation (KHF) has welcomed the Cabinet’s approval to ratify the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty.

On Thursday, the Cabinet chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta approved the ratification of the African Union Treaty for the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), which now awaits the passing of the necessary legislative instruments at the National Assembly.

Speaking when he confirmed KHF’s support for the ratification of the AMA instrument, KHF Chairperson Dr. Kanyenje Gakombe said local health stakeholders would provide the necessary support to the government in the race towards the establishment of AMA’s headquarters in Kenya.

“KHF, which is the health sector board of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), salutes the Cabinet and the Ministry of Health for moving a step further towards the signing and ratification of the AMA Treaty,” Dr Gakombe said.

“We now humbly request our Members of Parliament to prioritise the passing of the legislative instruments to boost further our chance of hosting the AMA in Kenya. The support of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and his officers in this journey has been immense and commendable.”

The establishment of AMA in Kenya, he said, will provide the country with an opportunity to leverage foreign direct investment flows estimated to be over Ksh.570 billion in the short-to-medium term.

Gakombe also said that AMA will enhance Kenya’s national competitiveness as a healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in sub-Sahara Africa.

He noted that the AMA Treaty ratification will strengthen the country’s national positioning as a pharmaceutical, health products and technologies investment destination.

Based on the recent securing of a US$500 million (approx. Ksh.58 billion) investment commitment by pharmaceutical biotechnology firm Moderna seeking to set up a manufacturing plant in Kenya, KHF estimates that the hosting of AMA in Kenya will ignite a tenfold commitment to similar investments.

“Kenya is currently well placed and resourced intellectually to act as the AMA host site of choice. The recent commitment by Moderna is a good example, and we have a good chance to scale up the commitments ten times if we push and lobby for the hosting of AMA in Kenya,” Dr Gakombe said

He further noted that the hosting of AMA in Kenya and the proposed setting up of the Moderna manufacturing plant would provide immense social and economic benefits, including quality job creation.