Programme
Two focused days following risks across the medicines journey and turning evidence, experience and leadership into practical action.
16–17 September 2026
This public overview presents the thematic arc of the Leadership Forum. This is the programme record of the completed event on 16–17 September 2026.
Day 1 – 16 September 2026
The programme followed risks across the medicines journey, examine why safety information is lost, and identify weaknesses in detection, reporting, escalation and coordinated response.
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Opening and Forum framing
OpeningThe Forum purpose, the medicines journey and the working method for the two days.
- 2
Session 1: Existing and emerging risks to medicines safety
SessionRisks across supply, product quality and new models of access, and what detection and enforcement experience reveals.
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Session 2: Managing risk, responsibilities and fit-for-purpose safety systems
SessionReporting, institutional feedback loops and the national and continental systems needed to turn safety information into action.
- 4
Working session: How African regulatory, surveillance and enforcement systems must evolve to protect patients
Working sessionDiscussion of the changes needed for stronger detection, escalation, coordination and response.
- 5
Day 1 synthesis and questions carried forward
SynthesisThe main findings and unresolved questions carried into the second day.
Intended day output: A shared account of the priority medicines-safety risks, the points where information and response break down, and the questions requiring further work.
Day 2 – 17 September 2026
The programme covered real-world safety, patient experience, institutional capability and prevention, before agreeing practical actions, responsibilities and areas requiring continental collaboration.
- 1
Session 3: Safety beyond approval
SessionReal-world evidence and the clinical, frontline and patient signals that emerge after products enter use.
- 2
Session 4: Patient experience as a source of learning
SessionHow patient and community experience can strengthen safety learning, pharmacovigilance and institutional response.
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Session 5: Building systems that prevent, not react
SessionThe institutional capability, patient involvement and strategic vigilance needed to identify and prevent harm earlier.
- 4
Working session: Practical actions, areas requiring continental collaboration and responsibilities
Working sessionDiscussion of how to translate the two days of discussion into practical priorities, responsibilities and areas for joint action.
World Patient Safety Day Special
5Live Leadership Roundtable
RoundtableThe Forum culminated in a live Leadership Roundtable bringing together regulatory, institutional, clinical, patient and industry perspectives. The discussion considered the priorities emerging from the two days, institutional responsibilities and the route from the Kigali Forum into the 90-day follow-up process and APSS 2027.
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Closing reflections, next steps and the road to APSS 2027
CloseClosing reflections addressed immediate next steps and connect the Forum’s work to the 90-day process and APSS 2027.
Intended day output: A focused set of practical actions, clearer institutional responsibilities and agreed areas for continental collaboration and follow-through.