As regulatory cooperation continues to advance across Africa, greater alignment between markets could play an important role in creating more efficient and predictable pathways for medicines to reach patients.
Ahead of AfriSummit 2026, we spoke with Ahmed Fahmy, Head of Africa Region for Established Pharmaceuticals at Abbott, about the opportunity presented by regulatory harmonisation, the role of biosimilars in broadening access, and how stronger collaboration between regulators and industry can support Africa’s evolving healthcare needs.
Ahmed Fahmy is Head of Africa Region for Established Pharmaceuticals at Abbott. He brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, including 15 years in senior leadership roles across Abbott, Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Novartis.
His expertise spans general management, P&L leadership, market access, commercial excellence and healthcare partnerships across diverse African and Middle Eastern markets. Ahmed is passionate about expanding patient access to high-quality medicines, strengthening local capabilities and advancing sustainable healthcare growth across Africa.
Share one key priority, development or opportunity your organization sees within Africa's regulatory and healthcare landscape. Briefly explain how your organisation is contributing to progress in this area.
One key priority/opportunity for Abbott’s medicines business in Africa is leveraging regulatory harmonization to expand access to affordable, high-quality medicines.
In May 2026, WHO and the African Medicines Agency (AMA) formalized their cooperation to advance regulatory convergence and reduce duplication across the continent. The continued operationalization of the AMA is creating important momentum toward greater regulatory harmonization, strengthened reliance mechanisms, and consistent standards for the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines across African markets.
For Abbott, this evolution aligns closely with our commitment to expanding access to high-quality medicines and addressing evolving healthcare needs across Africa and emerging markets. We see greater regulatory alignment and collaboration as important enablers of more efficient, predictable pathways for bringing innovative and affordable medicines to patients.
Abbott is committed to contributing constructively to this dialogue and to working alongside regulators and other stakeholders to support the development of stronger, more aligned regulatory frameworks in Africa. In particular, biosimilars can play an important role in broadening access to essential treatments, including in oncology, women’s health, and immunology, by leveraging Abbott’s growing biosimilar portfolio and supporting the evolution of Africa’s regulatory ecosystem.
Share what you are looking forward to at AfriSummit 2026. Highlight the perspective, expertise or value you hope to bring to the discussions.
At AfriSummit 2026, Abbott looks forward to engaging with regulators, policymakers, healthcare leaders and industry stakeholders to advance a more collaborative, efficient and sustainable regulatory environment across Africa.
Abbott aims to contribute its experience and perspectives on strengthening regulatory harmonization by reducing duplication and promoting greater alignment of registration requirements across African markets, while identifying opportunities to improve regulatory efficiency and accelerate patient access to innovative and established medicines.
The Summit will also provide an important platform to explore partnerships that strengthen local capabilities, enhance healthcare system resilience and address country-specific health priorities.
Abbott is committed to partnering with health authorities, industry stakeholders, and the broader healthcare community to advance regulatory excellence and help ensure that more patients across Africa can access high-quality medicines.
For Abbott, progress will depend on continued collaboration, strengthening regulatory alignment while responding to the distinct healthcare priorities and realities of individual African markets.
As Ahmed Fahmy highlights, AfriSummit 2026 provides an opportunity to bring regulators, policymakers, healthcare leaders and industry together around practical areas of progress, from reducing duplication and improving regulatory efficiency to strengthening local capabilities and expanding access to high-quality medicines.