USTDA supports healthcare access in South Africa

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for technical assistance and training to help streamline and strengthen regulatory processes for critical healthcare products including life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

“USTDA is proud to support SAHPRA’s efforts to improve the health of all South Africans through greater access to innovative and high-quality healthcare products,” said Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally (ret.), USTDA’s Acting Director. “Our assistance will also build partnerships between our respective healthcare sectors that will be good for both South Africa and the United States.”

USTDA’s technical assistance will assess SAHPRA’s current practices and evaluation capacity for healthcare products, as well as provide training to increase institutional knowledge of review processes by regulatory agencies that meet World Health Organization standards such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“The United States considers South Africa a vital partner on a range of key issues, health being key among them. This grant is another example of our strong partnership, and we look forward to continuing and deepening our work with South Africa in the coming year,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Akunna Cook.

SAHPRA CEO Dr. Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela said: “SAHPRA values partnerships that support its aims and objectives of being a world-class African regulator. This partnership will go a long way in strengthening our resolve to be a regulator that supports the three pillars of quality, safety, and efficacy.”

This project supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Build Back Better World Partnership to support quality infrastructure in emerging markets, as well as the U.S. government’s Prosper Africa initiative to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa.