Accra hosts continental conference to advance medicine safety and protect public health in Africa

Accra, Ghana — Health experts, researchers and policymakers have converged in Ghana’s capital for the 5th Annual Conference of Pharmacoepidemiology in Africa, with a strong focus on safeguarding public health and promoting the responsible use of medicines across the continent.

The three-day conference, which opened on April 20 in Accra, is being organised by the Africa Regional Interest Group (AfRIG) of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology.

Participants are examining critical issues at the intersection of health and human rights, including access to safe medicines, the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, and the need for stronger systems to monitor the effects of drugs and vaccines in real-world settings.

The gathering is expected to highlight Africa-driven solutions to improve pharmacovigilance and ensure that health systems uphold the right to safe, effective and quality healthcare for all.

Hosting the conference in Ghana reflects the country’s increasing leadership in pharmaceutical policy and medicine safety research, while also providing an opportunity to deepen regional collaboration among healthcare professionals and institutions.

The conference programme features keynote addresses, plenary discussions, scientific symposia and research presentations. It also includes practical workshops led by global experts, alongside dedicated sessions to support early-career scientists through mentorship and knowledge exchange.

Organizers say the event serves as a vital platform to strengthen partnerships and promote evidence-based policies that protect patients and enhance healthcare delivery systems across Africa.

“This conference provides a unique platform to build regional and global partnerships and to share impactful research that advances the safe and effective use of medicines, vaccines and health technologies,” the local host committee said in a statement.

The conference is supported by several international organizations and industry players, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Regeneron, IQVIA, Johnson & Johnson and Optima Clinical.

Local collaborators include the Ministry of Health Ghana, University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Pharmacy Council Ghana and Medicines Utilization Research in Africa.

Pharmacoepidemiology, the focus of the conference, is the science of studying how medicines and vaccines are used in populations, helping to identify their benefits, risks and patterns of use in everyday healthcare settings.

Stakeholders at the conference are expected to generate policy-relevant recommendations that will strengthen regulatory frameworks, improve medicine safety monitoring and ultimately protect the health rights of millions of people across Africa.