PQM in Africa

Regional Actvities Around the World/PQM

PQM currently works in ten African countries. Key PQM regional accomplishments include:

  • 2009 Quality of Antimalarial Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa Study (QAMSA) which revealed 44% failure rates of sampled antimalaraials in Madagascar, Senegal, and Uganda. The report was publicized around the world, with press coverage reaching more than 28 million people worldwide.
  • Establishment of medicine quality monitoring programs in five countries, resulting in seizure of counterfeit antimalarials in Ghana.
  • Establishment of the Network of African Medicine Quality Control Laboratories, which has promoted the sharing of best practices and improved proficiency.
  • Communications campaign in Dakar that resulted in expulsion of all medicine sellers at Keur Serigne Be, a major illicit market.
  • Collaboration with the Liberian Medicines Regulatory Authority to draft legislation to regulate medicine, food, and healthcare products. The Liberian Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority Act was signed into law in October 2010.

Click on the links in the chart below to learn more about individual countries, their needs, and PQM activities.

CountryPQM Activities
Benin
 
  • Onsite training on analytical test methods
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
Ethiopia
  • PQM establishes office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Onsite training on WHO medicine registration software
  • Onsite training on GMP standards
  • Onsite training in advanced analytical techniques
  • Technical assistance toward ISO 17025 accreditation
  • Establishing medicine quality monitoring program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Building capacity of the Official Medicine Control Laboratory (OMCL)
  • Participating in a regional quality control (QC) laboratory network
Ghana
  • Conducting onsite training in analytical techniques
  • Conducting onsite training in Minilab® use
  • Providing technical assistance toward ISO 17025 accreditation
  • Establishing a Medicine Quality Monitoring (MQM) program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Participating in a regional QC laboratory network
Kenya
  • Participating in a regional QC laboratory network
  • Establishing a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
Liberia
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Establishing a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Helping develop medicines legislation with medicine quality oversight
Mali
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Establishing a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Establishing or strengthening a pharmacovigilance program
  • Building capacity of the OMCL
Mozambique
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Building capacity of the OMCL
  • Helping develop medicines legislation with medicine quality oversight
Rwanda
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Building capacity of the OMCL
  • Conducting onsite training on Good Laboratory Practices and analytical test methods
Senegal
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Establishing a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Building capacity of the OMCL
  • Establishing or strengthening a pharmacovigilance program
  • Raising awareness through communications campaigns
  • Participating in a regional QC laboratory network
  • Participating in USP's Visiting Scientists program
Tanzania
  • Preparing manufacturers for WHO prequalification application
  • Presenting workshops on medicine quality