Egyptian Drug Authority Holds 17th Board Meeting to Advance Pharmaceutical Localization and Strategic Stockpile Stability
The Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) convened its 17th board meeting at its headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. Chaired by Dr. Ali Ghamrawy, Chairman of the EDA, the meeting focused on monitoring plans to develop the pharmaceutical ecosystem and strengthening cooperation among stakeholders to achieve national drug security and localize pharmaceutical manufacturing in Egypt.
The high-profile meeting was attended by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population; Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade; Dr. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Advisor to the President for Health and Prevention Affairs; Dr. Hisham Stait, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement (UPA); and Dr. Ahmed Abdel Hamid Taha, Chairman of the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR). Other attendees included Dr. Amany Osama Kamel, Vice President of Ain Shams University; Eng. Mohamed Hassan Abdel Halim, Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council (EGAC); Dr. Adel El-Adawy, former Minister of Health; Dr. Tamer El-Husseini, Vice Chairman of the EDA; and Dr. Rasha Ziada, Assistant Chairman of the EDA for Technical Development. Eng. Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, participated in the meeting virtually.
Securing Strategic Stockpiles and Achieving Self-Sufficiency
The board reviewed progress on the implementation of pharmaceutical localization strategies, aimed at ensuring continuous drug availability and maintaining robust strategic stockpiles to meet local market demands. A particular emphasis was placed on achieving self-sufficiency within the vital biologics and biosimilars sector.
Attendees also discussed mechanisms to bolster the domestic pharmaceutical industry and attract investment by encouraging the local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Upgrading the capabilities of Egyptian factories remains a core priority to boost production volumes and expand export capacities, solidifying Egypt's position as a leading regional hub for manufacturing and exporting medicines across Africa and the Middle East.
Cross-Governmental Integration for Vision 2030
The board emphasized that seamless coordination among government entities overseeing health, industry, investment, and pharmaceuticals is absolutely critical. This integrated approach ensures full alignment with the objectives of Egypt Vision 2030 and enhances the international competitiveness of the Egyptian pharmaceutical sector.
Key Statement from the Chairman: Dr. Ali Ghamrawy reaffirmed that the EDA's foremost priority is guaranteeing that all pharmaceutical and medical products in the local market strictly adhere to the highest global standards of quality, safety, and efficacy. He noted that the authority utilizes integrated tracking mechanisms alongside health sector partners to routinely monitor drug inventories and protect national security.
He added that the EDA is committed to offering all necessary facilities and regulatory support to industry partners to localize biologics production and transfer advanced manufacturing technologies to national factories. These steps are designed not only to secure and stabilize supply chains for Egyptian citizens but also to unlock fresh export pipelines globally.