• Guinea-Bissau launches national pharmaceutical traceability system with AVG
• Mandate requires full drug tracking; regulations effective March 2026
• Initiative targets counterfeits, strengthens healthcare and patient access

Guinea-Bissau last week enacted a national pharmaceutical traceability mandate, a regulatory system that requires the tracking and authentication of every medicine throughout the supply chain. Officially announced on Friday, Sept. 26, the initiative, undertaken in partnership with Italy's Antares Vision Group (AVG), aims to secure patient access to treatments and modernize the management of the pharmaceutical sector.

"Pharmaceutical safety and transparency are the foundation of a modern healthcare system. With the National Drug Catalogue at the center of ARFAME’s oversight role, Guinea-Bissau is creating a model that ensures compliance, protects patients and provides sustainable access to medicines," said Gianluca Mazzantini, CEO of Antares Vision Group. 

The system relies on several key tools, including the National Catalogue of Medicines, a centralized platform for all health product data. Beginning in October 2025, this will be supplemented by the AVGroupHub, a digital interface accessible to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and dispensers. This system will mandate product registration, complying with regulations set to take effect in March 2026, ensuring complete traceability and strengthening the fight against illegal distribution channels.

This initiative addresses Guinea-Bissau’s significant challenges in pharmaceutical regulation, which include parallel distribution circuits, a lack of centralized control, and an absence of reliable data on drug availability. It is part of the country’s National Digital Health Strategy, launched in January 2025, which aims to modernize data management, improve coordination between health facilities, and enhance the supervision of pharmaceutical supply chains.

Ultimately, the program is expected to boost sector transparency, combat counterfeiting, secure access to essential treatments for the population, and lay the groundwork for modern, sustainable digital healthcare in Guinea-Bissau.

Samira Njoya