The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on Wednesday in Addis Abba the launching of five-year Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) program with $197.9 million investment.

The SIAPS results areas include, among others, strengthening pharmaceutical sector governance, building individual, organizational, and institutional capacity for pharmaceutical supply management and services as well as improving pharmaceutical services to achieve desired health outcomes.

The Director-General of Ethiopian Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority, Yehulu Deneke, said at the launch that the program will significantly contribute to improving access to pharmaceuticals and services in the country.

Yehulu pointed out that commendable results were registered in a collaboration with USAID, the Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in the last six months.

The director said the authority will further continue working in collaboration with USAID in the efforts to build capacity of pharmacies and improve pharmaceuticals supply system.

USAID is one of Ethiopia’s development partners in various sectors.