Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, chaired the 17th meeting of the Egyptian Drug Authority’s (EDA) board on Monday to review strategic measures aimed at strengthening the pharmaceutical sector, expanding domestic production and enhancing the country’s regulatory capabilities.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid, Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem via video conference, Presidential Adviser for Health and Prevention Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Chairperson of the Unified Procurement Authority Hisham Stait, Chairperson of the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation Ahmed Taha, former Minister of Health Adel El-Adawy, and other senior officials.
According to a Ministry of Health statement, board members reviewed developments in Egypt’s pharmaceutical market and plans to increase local production, with particular emphasis on localising the manufacture of biologic medicines to strengthen drug security and reduce reliance on imports.
The board also discussed establishing a specialised unit to ensure the safe handling and disposal of laboratory waste in line with international environmental standards, as well as preparing a unified inspection manual for raw material manufacturing facilities to standardise regulatory procedures and ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
The discussions also covered mechanisms for reviewing pharmaceutical pricing policies to balance affordable access to medicines with the long-term sustainability of the domestic pharmaceutical industry. The board approved the Authority’s final financial statements for the 2025/2026 fiscal year and reviewed its international partnerships and participation in global initiatives.
Abdel Ghaffar said expanding domestic pharmaceutical production, particularly of biologic medicines, is a key pillar of Egypt’s health security strategy. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting local manufacturers, removing obstacles facing investors, and strengthening human capital through training programmes and support for researchers to keep pace with global advances in pharmaceutical regulation, testing and innovation.
Farid said the localisation of the pharmaceutical industry remains a priority under Egypt’s national investment strategy, with a focus on technology transfer, deepening local manufacturing and increasing exports.
Hashem said the pharmaceutical and medical industries are among the priority sectors identified under Egypt’s Industrial Strategy 2030, which aims to reduce import dependence, create jobs and position Egypt as a regional manufacturing and export hub.
For his part, Egyptian Drug Authority Chairperson Ali El-Ghamrawy said the Authority continues to prioritise the quality, safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products while facilitating investment in biologics manufacturing and technology transfer to strengthen supply chains and create new export opportunities for Egyptian-made medicines.
