Bridging the Regulatory Divide: A Dual-Pathway Framework Using SRA Approvals and AI Evaluation to Ensure Drug Quality in Developing Countries
<b>Background:</b> Developing countries face significant challenges in accessing high-quality pharmaceutical products due to resource constraints, limited regulatory capacity, and market dynamics that often prioritize cost over quality. This review addresses the critical gap in regulator...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1024 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849251774149427200 |
|---|---|
| author | Sarfaraz K. Niazi |
| author_facet | Sarfaraz K. Niazi |
| author_sort | Sarfaraz K. Niazi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> Developing countries face significant challenges in accessing high-quality pharmaceutical products due to resource constraints, limited regulatory capacity, and market dynamics that often prioritize cost over quality. This review addresses the critical gap in regulatory frameworks that fail to ensure pharmaceutical quality equity between developed and developing nations. <b>Objective:</b> This comprehensive review examines a novel dual-pathway regulatory framework that leverages stringent regulatory authority (SRA) approvals, artificial intelligence-based evaluation systems, and harmonized pricing mechanisms to ensure pharmaceutical quality equity across global markets. <b>Methods:</b> A comprehensive systematic analysis of current regulatory challenges, proposed solutions, and implementation strategies was conducted through an extensive literature review (202 sources, 2019–2025), expert consultation on regulatory science, AI implementation in healthcare, and pharmaceutical policy development. The methodology included an analysis of regulatory precedents, an economic impact assessment, and a feasibility evaluation based on existing technological implementations. <b>Results:</b> The proposed framework addresses key regulatory capacity gaps through two complementary pathways: Pathway 1 enables same-batch distribution from SRA-approved products with pricing parity mechanisms. At the same time, Pathway 2 provides independent evaluation using AI-enhanced systems for differentiated products. Key components include indigenous AI development, which requires systematic implementation over 4–6 years across three distinct stages, outsourced auditing frameworks that reduce costs by 40–50%, and quality-first principles that categorically reject cost-based quality compromises. Implementation analysis demonstrates a potential for achieving a 90–95% quality standardization, accompanied by a 200–300% increase in regulatory evaluation capability. <b>Conclusions:</b> This framework has the potential to significantly improve pharmaceutical quality and access in developing countries while maintaining rigorous safety and efficacy standards through innovative regulatory approaches. The evidence demonstrates substantial public health benefits with projected improvements in population access (85–95% coverage), treatment success rates (90–95% efficacy), and economic benefits (USD 15–30 billion in system efficiencies), providing a compelling case for implementation that aligns with global scientific consensus and Sustainable Development Goal 3.8. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6af9abe7ab594198b8e2ff0e28b7bc6f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj-art-6af9abe7ab594198b8e2ff0e28b7bc6f2025-08-20T03:56:49ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-07-01187102410.3390/ph18071024Bridging the Regulatory Divide: A Dual-Pathway Framework Using SRA Approvals and AI Evaluation to Ensure Drug Quality in Developing CountriesSarfaraz K. Niazi0College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA<b>Background:</b> Developing countries face significant challenges in accessing high-quality pharmaceutical products due to resource constraints, limited regulatory capacity, and market dynamics that often prioritize cost over quality. This review addresses the critical gap in regulatory frameworks that fail to ensure pharmaceutical quality equity between developed and developing nations. <b>Objective:</b> This comprehensive review examines a novel dual-pathway regulatory framework that leverages stringent regulatory authority (SRA) approvals, artificial intelligence-based evaluation systems, and harmonized pricing mechanisms to ensure pharmaceutical quality equity across global markets. <b>Methods:</b> A comprehensive systematic analysis of current regulatory challenges, proposed solutions, and implementation strategies was conducted through an extensive literature review (202 sources, 2019–2025), expert consultation on regulatory science, AI implementation in healthcare, and pharmaceutical policy development. The methodology included an analysis of regulatory precedents, an economic impact assessment, and a feasibility evaluation based on existing technological implementations. <b>Results:</b> The proposed framework addresses key regulatory capacity gaps through two complementary pathways: Pathway 1 enables same-batch distribution from SRA-approved products with pricing parity mechanisms. At the same time, Pathway 2 provides independent evaluation using AI-enhanced systems for differentiated products. Key components include indigenous AI development, which requires systematic implementation over 4–6 years across three distinct stages, outsourced auditing frameworks that reduce costs by 40–50%, and quality-first principles that categorically reject cost-based quality compromises. Implementation analysis demonstrates a potential for achieving a 90–95% quality standardization, accompanied by a 200–300% increase in regulatory evaluation capability. <b>Conclusions:</b> This framework has the potential to significantly improve pharmaceutical quality and access in developing countries while maintaining rigorous safety and efficacy standards through innovative regulatory approaches. The evidence demonstrates substantial public health benefits with projected improvements in population access (85–95% coverage), treatment success rates (90–95% efficacy), and economic benefits (USD 15–30 billion in system efficiencies), providing a compelling case for implementation that aligns with global scientific consensus and Sustainable Development Goal 3.8.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1024pharmaceutical regulationdeveloping countriesartificial intelligencequality assuranceregulatory harmonizationSRA reliance |
| spellingShingle | Sarfaraz K. Niazi Bridging the Regulatory Divide: A Dual-Pathway Framework Using SRA Approvals and AI Evaluation to Ensure Drug Quality in Developing Countries Pharmaceuticals pharmaceutical regulation developing countries artificial intelligence quality assurance regulatory harmonization SRA reliance |
| title | Bridging the Regulatory Divide: A Dual-Pathway Framework Using SRA Approvals and AI Evaluation to Ensure Drug Quality in Developing Countries |
| title_full | Bridging the Regulatory Divide: A Dual-Pathway Framework Using SRA Approvals and AI Evaluation to Ensure Drug Quality in Developing Countries |
| title_fullStr | Bridging the Regulatory Divide: A Dual-Pathway Framework Using SRA Approvals and AI Evaluation to Ensure Drug Quality in Developing Countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging the Regulatory Divide: A Dual-Pathway Framework Using SRA Approvals and AI Evaluation to Ensure Drug Quality in Developing Countries |
| title_short | Bridging the Regulatory Divide: A Dual-Pathway Framework Using SRA Approvals and AI Evaluation to Ensure Drug Quality in Developing Countries |
| title_sort | bridging the regulatory divide a dual pathway framework using sra approvals and ai evaluation to ensure drug quality in developing countries |
| topic | pharmaceutical regulation developing countries artificial intelligence quality assurance regulatory harmonization SRA reliance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1024 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarfarazkniazi bridgingtheregulatorydivideadualpathwayframeworkusingsraapprovalsandaievaluationtoensuredrugqualityindevelopingcountries |