By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Smoking alternatives could reduce cigarette use, save lives: NCI study
    Smoking alternatives could reduce cigarette use, save lives: NCI study
    September 26, 2023
    Alpha Dhabi acquires majority stake in Metito to boost water solutions
    Alpha Dhabi acquires majority stake in Metito to boost water solutions
    September 26, 2023
    Egypt invests trillions in infrastructure to boost economic future: Al-Sisi
    Egypt invests trillions in infrastructure to boost economic future: Al-Sisi
    September 26, 2023
    State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda
    Opinion| Switzerland, a reliable partner of Egypt in a changing world
    September 26, 2023
    CBE completes third phase of money market development project
    CBE completes third phase of money market development project
    September 25, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Presidential election in Egypt set for 10-12 December
    Presidential election in Egypt set for 10-12 December
    September 25, 2023
    Defence Minister meets NATO Military Committee chief
    Defence Minister meets NATO Military Committee chief
    September 25, 2023
    Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York
    Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York
    September 24, 2023
    Al-Sisi highlights opportunities for mutual benefit with China
    Al-Sisi highlights opportunities for mutual benefit with China
    September 24, 2023
    Egypt, India affirm their strategic partnership, discuss regional issues
    Egypt, India affirm their strategic partnership, discuss regional issues
    September 24, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    September 18, 2023
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    September 14, 2023
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    September 12, 2023
    India welcomes Egypt's BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    India welcomes Egypt’s BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    September 11, 2023
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma Hassan
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma
    September 6, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: New app fights black market pharmaceuticals
Share
Notification
Latest News
Smoking alternatives could reduce cigarette use, save lives: NCI study
Smoking alternatives could reduce cigarette use, save lives: NCI study
Business
Alpha Dhabi acquires majority stake in Metito to boost water solutions
Alpha Dhabi acquires majority stake in Metito to boost water solutions
Business
AIIB’s investment portfolio in Egypt reaches $1.3bn with potential for over $1bn in various sectors: Maait
AIIB’s investment portfolio in Egypt reaches $1.3bn with potential for over $1bn in various sectors: Maait
Egypt
Egypt invests trillions in infrastructure to boost economic future: Al-Sisi
Egypt invests trillions in infrastructure to boost economic future: Al-Sisi
Business
State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda
Opinion| Switzerland, a reliable partner of Egypt in a changing world
Opinion Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Lifestyle > New app fights black market pharmaceuticals
Lifestyle

New app fights black market pharmaceuticals

Daily News Egypt
Last updated: 2014/07/20 at 3:12 PM
By Daily News Egypt 3 Min Read
Share
SHARE

By Youssef Aziz

For a patient with high blood pressure, drugs to fight off stroke and heart attacks are a vital element of a daily routine. Taking a fake drug is the last thing such a patient needs.

Now patients have a tool to protect themselves.

A group of young Egyptian programmers, who call themselves GENU, have developed a smartphone application that can differentiate between genuine and fake drugs.

Ten percent of Egyptian pharmaceuticals are fake, including mostly cancer, diabetes, and hypertension drugs, according to former minister of health Hatem El Gabaly.

It is almost impossible to identify the ingredients of a fake drug, which is often completely devoid of the active substance, said Janice William, a pharmacist at El-Deiry Pharmacy in Heliopolis.

“It all comes down the pharmacist’s ethics,” William said. “Unlicensed dealers coming with a wide variety of drugs offering to sell them to the pharmacy is a very common thing.”

The app, the first of its kind in the Middle East, will be “free, quick and simple”, said Ahmed Rashaad, CEO and general manager of GENU. After the application is approved for use, the manufacturers will put a special barcode on the box with medication. When the patient takes a photo of the barcode, they will be able to see if the drug comes from major companies’ factories, or if it is just a random, smuggled substance from China or India, he said.

The programme not only detects fake drugs, but also reminds the patient of the dosage required and the places selling the drug, Rashaad added.

It could also help bring corrupt pharmacists to justice, William said.

If the syndicate of pharmacists ever finds out that fake drugs are being sold at a certain drug store, it will charge penalties against it and issue a warning, she said. If the store issues fake drugs again, the government will shut the place down permanently.

Rashaad and his colleagues spent two years studying Egypt’s pharmaceutical market and six months working on the app.

They developed the app as part of Microsoft Student Partners, a worldwide educational programme that sponsors undergraduate and postgraduate students studying computer science, computer information systems and information technology. Microsoft provides students with software, hardware and training opportunities to support the development of new apps.

The project, funded by Irish investors, cost EGP 50,000, Rashaad said. It has won three awards, including first prize at the Nile University NU100 competition in June.

The demo version is now being tested by multinational pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and Roche Pharmaceutics to assure its liability.

You Might Also Like

Opinion| Switzerland, a reliable partner of Egypt in a changing world

Egypt plans to sell stakes in AlexBank, Vodafone, and other assets by June 2024

Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia resume talks on GERD in Addis Ababa

Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York

Egypt, India affirm their strategic partnership, discuss regional issues

TAGGED: app, Daily News, drugs, Egypt, medicine, microsoft, Nile University, pharmacy, smartphone
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article Ramadan beneath the surface: Fish at Farag since Farouk times
Next Article Foreign ministry urges Egyptians in Libya to take measures of ‘extreme caution’
3 Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Smoking alternatives could reduce cigarette use, save lives: NCI study
Smoking alternatives could reduce cigarette use, save lives: NCI study
Business
Alpha Dhabi acquires majority stake in Metito to boost water solutions
Alpha Dhabi acquires majority stake in Metito to boost water solutions
Business
AIIB’s investment portfolio in Egypt reaches $1.3bn with potential for over $1bn in various sectors: Maait
AIIB’s investment portfolio in Egypt reaches $1.3bn with potential for over $1bn in various sectors: Maait
Egypt
Egypt invests trillions in infrastructure to boost economic future: Al-Sisi
Egypt invests trillions in infrastructure to boost economic future: Al-Sisi
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?