Libreville, 25 February 2014 – Ministers of Health of the  six-nation Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) met on 20 February in Libreville, Gabon, to launch the Common Pharmaceutical Policy of the regional economic grouping.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Health of Gabon, Prof.  Fidele MENGUE ME ENGOUANG, representing His Excellency Ali BONGO ONDIMBA, President of the Republic of Gabon.

The meeting, which  was addressed by senior officials of OCEAC, NEPAD the World Health Organization (WHO) and , CEMAC and was opened by the Gabonese Minister of Health. 

In his statement, Dr Sambo pledged that WHO would support CEMAC’s Commission for the implementation of the Common Pharmaceutical Policy common by facilitating the sharing of information and experience with other AU regional economic communities (RECs).

The statement was read of his behalf by Dr Georges Ki-Zerbo, Coordinator of the WHO Inter Country Support Team for Central Africa.

Dr Sambo also reiterated WHO’s support for the establishment of strong national pharmaceutical regulation authorities with adequate human and financial resources as well as quality management systems aimed at ensuring evidence-informed decision making.

The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) is made up of six Member States: Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.