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Vice President Mr. Sebastien Pillay attended the AMA High-Level Breakfast today under the theme “Accelerating the Operationalization and Universal Ratification of the African Medicines Agency for Quality Medical products and Health security in Africa” at the Sheraton Hotel, held on the margins of the AU Summit. The Vice President was accompanied by Principal Secretary Dr. Sanjeev Pugazhendhi and Dr. Ken Freminot.

The primary objective of the AMA is to enhance the capacity of State Parties and Regional Economic Communities to regulate medical products, ensuring that all Africans have access to safe, efficacious, and high-quality medicines while fostering a robust environment for local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Addressing health officials from across the continent, Vice President Pillay emphasized that the agency is the cornerstone of African health security. Stressing the need for collective ownership, he stated: "The AMA is not merely a regulatory body; it is the vehicle for Africa’s medical self-sufficiency and our shield against future pandemics. Seychelles, as the smallest nation on the continent, is prepared to make its financial commitment to this cause. I call upon all member states to contribute resources not just for the initial setup, but to ensure the long-term sustainability of the agency for the benefit of all our people."

To date, 31 out of the 55 AU member states have signed the treaty establishing the AMA. Vice President Pillay’s intervention served as a diplomatic catalyst, urging the remaining nations to join the framework to secure the continent’s pharmaceutical sovereignty.