AfriSummit 2025 – Gold Sponsor Interview: Abbott

Dr. Mohamed Kandil

Regional Director – Egypt, Saudi Arabia & Africa

Abbott – Saudi Arabia, LLC

 

1- How does Abbott navigate the diverse and evolving pharmaceutical regulatory frameworks across African markets, and what strategies do you consider most effective in ensuring compliance while accelerating patient access to medicines?

Navigating the regulatory landscape across African markets certainly presents challenges due to its diversity and constant evolution. At Abbott, staying informed is key—we closely monitor regulatory developments in each country where we operate. This includes tracking changes in laws, guidelines, and procedures that could impact our work.

We also place strong emphasis on building local expertise. Whether through hiring or partnering with regulatory professionals who understand the nuances of each market, this local insight helps us respond effectively and responsibly. Recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work, we tailor our strategies to the specific regulatory requirements of each country.

Engaging directly with regulatory authorities is another important part of our approach. These relationships help us better understand expectations, navigate processes more efficiently, and proactively address any concerns. Internally, we foster a culture of compliance through regular training and awareness, ensuring our teams operate in line with local and international standards. Finally, we collaborate with healthcare stakeholders to support broader access goals and contribute to sustainable healthcare delivery.

Ultimately, our approach reflects Abbott’s long-standing presence in Africa and our understanding of the importance of building trust, adapting to local realities, and contributing to long-term health system resilience.

2- With the African Medicines Agency (AMA) gaining momentum, what role do you see for multinational companies like Abbott in supporting regulatory harmonization efforts, and how could these collaborations improve both quality assurance and market access?

Multinational companies have a valuable role to play in supporting regulatory harmonization across Africa. Through collaboration with organizations like the AMA, we can share technical expertise, support training initiatives, and contribute to capacity-building efforts that strengthen regulatory systems.

These partnerships also create opportunities for knowledge exchange and the promotion of best practices, which can lead to more consistent and efficient regulatory processes. By aligning regulatory expectations across countries, we can help reduce duplication, shorten approval timelines, and ultimately improve access to high-quality healthcare products.

Improved quality assurance is another benefit. Harmonized standards make it easier to maintain consistent product quality and safety across markets. For companies looking to expand their footprint in Africa, this alignment also lowers barriers to entry and fosters a more predictable environment for innovation and investment.

By actively engaging in regulatory harmonization efforts, Abbott helps create a more transparent and efficient environment for healthcare innovation—one that ultimately benefits patients, strengthens local systems, and supports long-term access across African markets.

3- As advanced therapies and digital health solutions become more prominent, what regulatory challenges and opportunities do you anticipate in Africa, and how is Abbott preparing to align with these future regulatory demands?

The growing presence of advanced therapies and digital health solutions in Africa presents both exciting opportunities and complex regulatory challenges. One of the key issues is the variation in regulatory frameworks across countries, which can make it difficult to establish consistent standards for emerging technologies. This diversity requires careful navigation and a flexible approach to ensure alignment with local requirements.

Access and affordability also remain central concerns. As these innovations become more available, ensuring equitable access across different regions is important. parallel, the rise of digital health brings increased focus on data privacy and cybersecurity. Ensuring compliance with national data protection laws and safeguarding patient information is essential to building trust and enabling adoption.

Despite these challenges, the potential for impact is significant. Advanced therapies and digital tools can transform healthcare delivery—especially in underserved areas—by enabling earlier diagnosis, improving disease management, and expanding access to care. There is also a growing opportunity for collaboration between regulators, healthcare providers, and technology innovators to shape forward-looking policies that support safe and effective integration of these solutions.

Through ongoing collaboration with African stakeholders, Abbott contributes to the development of resilient and inclusive digital health ecosystems—ones that not only foster innovation but also deliver meaningful improvements in patient outcomes across the continent.