Editor’s note: Drug Eye Africa is a media partner of AfriSummit 2026.
AfriSummit 2026 opened in Nairobi on 28 September, the first time the regulatory affairs summit has been held in East Africa in its six editions.
For regulatory affairs teams, the agenda is the reason to follow it. Sessions address WHO Global Benchmarking Tool maturity levels, reliance and harmonisation, local manufacturing, clinical research, traceability, substandard and falsified health products, and the oversight of medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics. A separate one-day workshop covers eCTD training for electronic regulatory submissions, which bears directly on how dossiers are filed to African authorities over the next submission cycle.
The event is held at the Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel under the auspices of Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the patronage of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). It runs as two consecutive meetings: PharmaReg AfriSummit from 28 to 30 September, covering pharmaceuticals, followed by MedDevReg AfriSummit on 1 and 2 October for medical devices and diagnostics.
Organisers say they expect more than 16 national regulatory authorities and notified bodies, upwards of 100 speakers and more than 450 delegates drawn from over 25 countries. Those figures are the organisers’ projections and had not been independently confirmed at the opening.
The World Health Organization is taking part as the summit’s Continental Strategic Partner. The designation describes WHO’s relationship with the event and does not denote endorsement of positions taken in its sessions. Haleon is Principal Sponsor, with a further roster of pharmaceutical, medical device, technology and traceability companies among the sponsors and exhibitors.
Dr Mona Al Moussli, Chairman of AfriSummit, said: “Regulatory systems across Africa are entering an important period of development, with greater emphasis on the growth of local manufacturing, stronger national regulatory capacity and reliance. AfriSummit creates a space where regulators and industry can discuss these priorities directly and find ways to move forward together.”
Dr Najiba Al Shezawy, Co-Chairman, said the summit’s aim was “to encourage meaningful exchange, build relationships and support a stronger and more connected regulatory ecosystem across Africa”.
Drug Eye Africa is attending and will report from the sessions through to 2 October.
