Dakar, Senegal,17/08/2023 To accelerate access to diagnostics in the continent, Africa CDC in partnership with key partners have launched the Africa Collaborative Initiative to Advance Diagnostics (AFCAD). The AFCAD will address four key objectives: Promote local manufacturing of diagnostics, map, identify and build capacity of diagnostic centres of excellence (the Africa Biobanking Network), facilitate harmonization of regulatory processes and requirements, and global market negotiation. The AFCAD initiative, to bring the needed change in access to diagnostics, has to be supported by regional and continental harmonization of the regulatory processes for medical devices including Invitro Diagnostics (IVDs).