LPM backs AMA establishment
Landless People’s Movement ( LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi said his party is in full support of government on the establishment of the proposed African Medicines Agency (AMA), which will enhance the regulation of medical products throughout the African Union.
Swartbooi said this in parliament this week while talking about his stance on the establishment of the agency and the participation by the Namibian government as a member state that should contribute.
He said he is pleased with the positive role Namibia has played in participating in the initiative and wishes government officials the best in realising the objective of a continent-wide medicine agency. He said AMA is a progressive development for the African people as a whole and is commendable despite Africa’s financial and technical challenges.
“The state parties have per s eve red toward thi s remarkable forward movement of the initiative. AMA intends to
join the league of other continents that are already ahead of us in the supra-national coordination of medicinal products and regulatory frameworks and the alignment of scientific efforts toward ensuring safety and availability of medicinal products and substances,” said Swartbooi.
He added that there is a need for clarity regarding the stance of AMA on traditional approaches to healing as part of the African indigenous healing system, which is known to have worked for centuries but may not be regarded as scientific within the traditional medical field.
“At the same time, Namibia should also look at its challenges within the health sector such as the lack of basic medicine and specialists that have returned from training, but who are unable to practice fully at State hospitals due to lack of basic facilities required to carry out specialist work,” Swartbooi said.
He further noted that payments of members’ dues are always a challenge in the African Union system, thus he hopes and trusts that government will duly pay their part to ensure that the body can function properly as intended. - Nampa