2026 Leadership Forum
Africa Patient Safety Summit
A focused leadership process to advance practical action on medicines safety and patient protection across Africa.
Hosted & convened by Medicines for Africa · In partnership with the African Medicines Agency
Partners advancing the Africa Patient Safety Summit
Partnerships support the 2026 Leadership Forum and the continuing development of the Summit platform.
Institutional partner
Hosting the 2026 Leadership Forum at its headquarters in Kigali and contributing continental regulatory leadership.
Platinum Sponsor · Africa Patient Safety Summit
Supporting the 2026 Leadership Forum and the development of the wider Africa Patient Safety Summit.
Supporting sponsors
A focused working stage of the Africa Patient Safety Summit
On 16–17 September 2026, invited leaders and experts will meet at the African Medicines Agency headquarters to examine urgent medicines-safety challenges and develop practical priorities.
The Forum will inform a 90-day consultation and drafting process, strengthening the Summit platform and creating a clear foundation for its wider 2027 gathering.
Dr. Lenias Hwenda
Chief Executive Officer, Medicines for Africa
Dr. Lenias Hwenda is the Chief Executive Officer of Medicines for Africa and Chair of the Africa Patient Safety Summit. She leads the Summit's strategic direction and the development of its platform for practical collaboration and action to advance patient safety across Africa.
Nozipho Tshabalala
CEO, The Conversation Strategists
Nozipho Tshabalala is a best-selling author and the CEO of The Conversation Strategists, where she designs and facilitates high-stakes conversations in complex political, economic and social environments.
A trusted adviser to executives, global institutions and governments, she has worked with the World Bank Group, United Nations agencies, multinational corporations and academic institutions. Her perspective draws on experience spanning The Presidency of South Africa, CNBC Africa and Tata Africa, supported by an academic grounding in development finance and international relations.
Nozipho is sought after for distilling complexity into insight and convening conversations that drive measurable, lasting impact. At the Leadership Forum, she will guide the discussion, connect diverse perspectives and support the clear synthesis of Summit contributions into practical priorities and outcomes that advance patient safety across Africa.
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 a system-level signal of fragmented medicines safety protection—and a reminder of why the Forum must lead to practical action.
Two days following the medicines journey
This public overview presents the thematic arc of the Leadership Forum. Confirmed participants will receive the detailed programme, session assignments and practical information through the Summit app.
Day 1 – 16 September 2026
Participants will follow risks across the medicines journey, examine why safety information is lost, and identify weaknesses in detection, reporting, escalation and coordinated response.
- Opening and Forum framing
- Session 1: Existing and emerging risks to medicines safety
- Session 2: Managing risk, responsibilities and fit-for-purpose safety systems
- Working session: How African regulatory, surveillance and enforcement systems must evolve to protect patients
- Day 1 synthesis and questions carried forward
Day 2 – 17 September 2026
Participants will examine real-world safety, patient experience, institutional capability and prevention, before agreeing practical actions, responsibilities and areas requiring continental collaboration.
- Session 3: Safety beyond approval
- Session 4: Patient experience as a source of learning
- Session 5: Building systems that prevent, not react
- Working session: Practical actions, areas requiring continental collaboration and responsibilities
- Live Leadership Roundtable
- Closing reflections, next steps and the road to APSS 2027
The Committee shaping the Forum programme
The Scientific Committee is guiding programme development, public consultation and the preparation of the initial working drafts.
Dr.
Kimmo Makinen
Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee
Medicines for Africa
Dr.
Nomsa Tsikai
Clinical Oncologist & Founding Director
Harare Oncology Centre, Zimbabwe
Dr.
Vivian Akwuaka
Director of Patient Safety and Governance
African Medical Centre of Excellence, Nigeria
Sihle Mchunu-Mtetwa
Cluster Patient Safety Head, East & Southern Africa
Novartis
Frieda Shigwedha
Registrar of Medicines
Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council
Dr.
Joël Ouoba
Head, National Pharmacovigilance Centre
National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (ANRP), Burkina Faso
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
Juma Mwashuruti
Associate Director, Anti-Falsified Medicines Africa
Novartis
Materials for consultation and development
The Forum will work with five initial drafts. Public consultation and participant input will help refine them.
Africa Patient Safety Leadership Statement
A concise expression of shared purpose and leadership commitment.
Priority Action Framework — proposed APS Compact 2030
An initial structure for priority actions and practical progress.
Institutional Roles and Contributions Map
A working view of where institutions can lead, contribute and coordinate.
Framework for the Next Phase
A proposed sequence for moving from alignment to implementation and learning.
Consultation and Action Roadmap
A route for consultation, refinement, action and continued engagement.
Public questions and experience will inform the drafting process
An online information and consultation session before the Forum will allow the Scientific Committee to respond to questions and gather input. A second public session will follow the Forum to share progress and invite further comment.
The people taking part
Contributors bring experience from regulation, patient advocacy, frontline care, research and industry. Additional contributors will be added as participation is finalised.
Dr. Delese Mimi Darko
Director General
African Medicines Agency
Professor Raymond Muganga
Acting Director General
Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA)
Pharm. Asmau Abubakar
Chief Regulatory Officer
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria
Professor Papa Madièye Gueye
Chair, Regulatory Council
Senegalese Agency for Pharmaceutical Regulation (ARP)
Professor Alex Dodoo
Senior Advisor to the Director General
African Medicines Agency
Mafora Florah Matlala
Pharmacovigilance Manager
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)
Musa N. Corr
Principal Regulatory Officer
Medicines Control Agency, The Gambia
Dr. Joël Ouoba
Head, National Pharmacovigilance Centre
National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (ANRP), Burkina Faso
A focused working setting at the African Medicines Agency
The programme combines structured sessions, focused working groups, leadership discussion and an evening gathering for invited participants. Practical travel and accommodation information will be shared directly with confirmed participants.
Explore the Forum experienceBuilding towards the Africa Patient Safety Summit 2027
The wider Summit will bring a larger community into the next phase, drawing on the Leadership Forum, public consultation and the practical work that follows.
- 01
Align
- 02
Prioritise
- 03
Demonstrate
- 04
Learn
- 05
Scale