Medicines for Africa · 2026
Africa Patient Safety Summit
Advancing patient safety through collective action to prevent medication-related harm.
Hosted & convened by Medicines for Africa · In partnership with the African Medicines Agency
1M
estimated deaths annually linked to poor-quality medicines in Africa
42%
of globally detected counterfeit medicines are found on the continent
250+
multidisciplinary delegates convening in Kigali
40+
countries represented across Africa's medicines ecosystem
Medication-related harm is everybody’s problem.
Medication-related harm is one of the most preventable yet under-recognised causes of death in Africa. It costs lives and undermines economies.
It affects every part of the medicines ecosystem, and so, no single profession, institution or sector can solve it alone.
We need coordinated action. Without such action, the scale of preventable harm will continue to outpace our ability to prevent it.
In a rural clinic, a child is treated for malaria with medicines that appear legitimate — but are substandard. The treatment fails, and a preventable condition becomes life-threatening.
This is not an isolated incident. It is a system-level signal of fragmented medicines safety protection.
Six themes, one coordinated response
Every theme addresses a different dimension of medication-related harm — patient-centred and built for real-world implementation across two days in Kigali.
1Patient-Centred Medicines Regulation
Advancing regulatory approaches that strengthen patient protection and public trust.
2Medicines Safety and Quality
Strengthening systems that ensure medicines remain safe, effective and trusted throughout their lifecycle.
3Safe and Rational Use of Medicines
Reducing medication-related harm through safer prescribing, dispensing and medicine use.
4Pharmacovigilance and Post-Market Surveillance
Improving detection, reporting and response to medicines safety concerns across the continent.
5Patients, Communities and Safety Intelligence
Positioning patients and communities as active contributors to medicines safety systems.
6Innovation, Evidence and Coordinated Action
Leveraging innovation, research and collaboration to accelerate patient safety improvements.
Meet the Committee shaping the programme
Our Scientific Committee brings together expertise in clinical care, medicines regulation, pharmacovigilance, public health, patient engagement and medicines integrity. Its members are helping refine the Summit's themes, identify priority issues and guide the selection of speakers and contributors.
Dr.
Nomsa Tsikai
Clinical Oncologist & Founding Director
Harare Oncology Centre, Zimbabwe
Sihle Mchunu-Mtetwa
Cluster Patient Safety Head, East & Southern Africa
Novartis
Frieda Shigwedha
Registrar of Medicines
Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council
Juma Mwashuruti
Associate Director, Anti-Falsified Medicines Africa
Novartis
Dr.
Mosoka Fallah
Acting Director, Science and Innovation
Africa CDC
Dr.
Nikki Kitikiti
Public Health Physician & Associate Visiting Expert
Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke–NUS Medical School
Joshua Wamboga
Director of Development & Patient Advocate
Uganda Alliance of Patients' Organizations
Leaders shaping patient safety in Africa
Regulatory leaders, ministers, and global patient-safety voices — with more to be announced.
H.E.
Dr Delese Mimi Darko
Director General
African Medicines Agency
Dr. Lenias Hwenda
Chief Executive Officer
Medicines For Africa
H.E.
Dr Yvan Butera
Minister of State for Health
Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda
Join the summit as a delegate
The Africa Patient Safety Summit welcomes regulators, healthcare professionals, researchers, patient organisations, students and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Registration is now open. Secure your place today — the best rates are available during the Early Bird window.
Partners are not just sponsors. They are co-builders of a continental patient safety agenda.
No institution can solve medication-related harm alone. Help shape Africa's medicines safety and regulatory agenda.