Keywords
global health, regulatory systems, Africa, African Medicines Agency, public health, collaboration, brain drain, health systems, innovation
Biography
Dr. David Mukanga is the Deputy Director of Africa Regulatory Systems at the Gates Foundation. He leads the foundation’s Africa regulatory systems optimization programs and the linkage between regulatory systems and health care services.
Dr. Mukanga has over 20 years of experience creating and running global health programs that strengthen regulatory and health systems and develop Africa's public health workforce. David supports the development of harmonized, transparent, and predictable regulatory systems covering the lifecycle of medical products in Africa across the national, regional, and continental levels.
Before joining the Gates Foundation, David served as CEO of the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and developed successful programs in complex environments, including Angola, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, that trained hundreds of public health professionals, responded to polio and other infectious disease outbreaks, and enhanced national health security infrastructure.
He works with the health sector and African governments to facilitate the development of new medical products and patient access to quality essential medicines.
David helped establish the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization Partners platform, a collective of more than 30 technical and funding partners supporting the building of Africa’s regulatory systems. He served as its first Chair between 2017 and 2024 and is currently on the Board of the Drug Information Association (DIA).
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Global Health and Regulatory Systems
02:04 The Importance of African Regulatory Systems
03:10 Regional Economic Communities and Regulatory Harmonization
09:17 Establishment of the African Medicines Agency
12:15 Operational Challenges of the African Medicines Agency
14:51 Collaboration Between Academia and Regulatory Agencies
17:41 Addressing the Brain Drain in Regulatory Science
25:51 Current Priorities in Strengthening Regulatory Systems
29:35 Proud Accomplishments and Future Directions
Summary
In this episode of the Velocity Made Good podcast, Dr. David Mukanga discusses his extensive experience in global health and the critical role of regulatory systems in ensuring quality healthcare in Africa. He emphasizes the importance of harmonization among African regulatory bodies and establishing the African Medicines Agency to streamline processes and improve access to medicines. Dr. Mukanga also addresses the challenges African regulators face, including brain drain and the need for collaboration with academic institutions. He highlights current initiatives aimed at strengthening regulatory systems and the potential of AI in enhancing regulatory processes.
We trust you’ll find this Velocity Made Good podcast episode insightful.
For more information, we encourage you to explore the suggested readings.
Supplemental Readings:
Mukonzo JK, Ndagije HB, Sabblah GT, Mathenge W, Price DA, Grasela TH. Expanding regulatory science: Regulatory complementarity and reliance. Clin Transl Sci. 2024; 17:e13683. doi:10.1111/cts.13683
Mashingia JH, Ahonkhai V, Aineplan N, Ambali A, Angole A, Arik M, et al. (2020) Eight years of the East African Community Medicines Regulatory Harmonization initiative: Implementation, progress, and lessons learned. PLoS Med 17(8): e1003134. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003134
Semete-Makokotlela B, Mahlangu GN, Mukanga D, et al. Needs-driven talent and competency development for the next generation of regulatory scientists in Africa. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2022; 88(2): 579-586. doi:10.1111/bcp.15020
Kohler, J. C., Castro-Arteaga, M., Panjwani, S., Mukanga, D., Lumpkin, M. M., Fundafunda, B., … Preston, C. (2025). Understanding the regulatory-procurement interface for medicines in Africa via publicly available information on standards, implementation, and enforcement in five countries. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20523211.2024.2436898
Endnote:
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Acknowledgements:
We gratefully acknowledge Joe Brancato's generosity in allowing us to use his original composition, "Extraordinary People," as the soundtrack for the podcast.
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