Ethiopia launches National Strategy (2026‑2030) to combat substandard and falsified medical products

On 18 December 2025 the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) launched the National Strategy for Combating Substandard and Falsified (SF) Medical Products for 2026‑2030. The high‑level event was attended by senior officials including the EFDA Director General, the Minister of Health, the State Minister of Health, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ethiopian Customs Commission, regulatory bodies and development partners. The strategy, developed with extensive stakeholder consultation and supported by the Gates Foundation, outlines a multisectoral framework based on prevention, detection and response, and targets strengthening regulatory and legal frameworks, surveillance, digital technologies, workforce capacity, public awareness and national and international partnerships. Ethiopia’s recent achievement of WHO Global Benchmarking Tool maturity level 3 for medicines regulation was highlighted as a foundation for advancing to higher maturity levels and positioning EFDA as an African Centre of Excellence. The WHO reaffirmed its commitment to support Ethiopia’s implementation of the strategy to improve public health outcomes.