Centre of Excellence for Pharmacovigilance in Southern Africa (CEPSA): early achievements and future plans
1
1 School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
2
2 Public Health Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
3
3 School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
4
4 Independent Consulatant, Barcelona, Spain
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1810
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Effective regulatory systems play a critical role in improving access to safe, efficacious and quality medicines and vaccines. However, regulatory and pharmacovigilance (PV) systems in most African countries are under-resourced and lack recognition of their public health role. The Centre of Excellence for Pharmacovigilance in Southern Africa (CEPSA), located at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa in partnership with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium was set up in October 2024 to strengthen PV activities across the region.
METHODS:
CEPSA aims to lead initiatives to strengthen safety monitoring of medical products across their lifecycle; focusing on three key areas of PV: Advanced training and capacity strengthening (workshops, mentoring and mobility); operational research and policy-making support; information and risk communication systems enhancement.
RESULTS:
CEPSA has launched several activities. 1) A multi-phased situational assessment mapping the current PV training, research, risk communication capacities and related gaps and needs in 16 Southern African countries. It comprises a desk review, multi-lingual online survey and interviews. To date, 9/16 countries have responded to the online survey. 2) The first 5-day advanced training workshop for 21 participants from PV centres in 18 countries in Africa took place at UWC in November 2025. The innovative approach, using simulated real-world data sets to guide participants through a stepwise exercise from signal detection to risk communication, promotes immersive and hands-on learning, collaboration and networking. 3) CEPSA’s ‘community of practice’ has been established to foster knowledge transfer and information sharing, including a quarterly Newsletter. 4) Mentoring and mobility programmes and risk communication webinars are being rolled out.
CONCLUSIONS:
CEPSA initiatives to date have focused on building skills and establishing relationships with a cohort of PV colleagues across Africa. Future activities will further strengthen PV and firmly cement its public health role.
Effective regulatory systems play a critical role in improving access to safe, efficacious and quality medicines and vaccines. However, regulatory and pharmacovigilance (PV) systems in most African countries are under-resourced and lack recognition of their public health role. The Centre of Excellence for Pharmacovigilance in Southern Africa (CEPSA), located at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa in partnership with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium was set up in October 2024 to strengthen PV activities across the region.
METHODS:
CEPSA aims to lead initiatives to strengthen safety monitoring of medical products across their lifecycle; focusing on three key areas of PV: Advanced training and capacity strengthening (workshops, mentoring and mobility); operational research and policy-making support; information and risk communication systems enhancement.
RESULTS:
CEPSA has launched several activities. 1) A multi-phased situational assessment mapping the current PV training, research, risk communication capacities and related gaps and needs in 16 Southern African countries. It comprises a desk review, multi-lingual online survey and interviews. To date, 9/16 countries have responded to the online survey. 2) The first 5-day advanced training workshop for 21 participants from PV centres in 18 countries in Africa took place at UWC in November 2025. The innovative approach, using simulated real-world data sets to guide participants through a stepwise exercise from signal detection to risk communication, promotes immersive and hands-on learning, collaboration and networking. 3) CEPSA’s ‘community of practice’ has been established to foster knowledge transfer and information sharing, including a quarterly Newsletter. 4) Mentoring and mobility programmes and risk communication webinars are being rolled out.
CONCLUSIONS:
CEPSA initiatives to date have focused on building skills and establishing relationships with a cohort of PV colleagues across Africa. Future activities will further strengthen PV and firmly cement its public health role.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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