Morocco seeks to host African Medicines Agency

Morocco is undertaking a charm offensive to win support for its bid to host the headquarters of the African Medicines Agency, an institution that aims at enhancing regulatory oversight and facilitating access to safe and affordable medicines across the continent.

Morocco has already won the support of many African countries for its bid. Recently the Democratic Republic of the Congo said it backs Morocco, a country that spared no effort to help its African peers deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Morocco sent vital medical aid to dozens of African countries from all corners of the continent. These airlifted shipments included vital medicine, protective gear and medical equipment.

The Kingdom has also taken steps including the setting up of a vaccine production plant to serve as an export hub to the rest of Africa, which is already suffering from vaccine distribution inequality.

Speaking following a meeting last week with his Congolese peer in Rabat, Moroccan health minister Khalid Ait Taleb said hosting the African Medicines Agency is an endeavor in line with the Kingdom’s commitment to develop medicines sovereignty in Africa.

Morocco has already made the case for inter-African solidarity including in the strategic field of health.