Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held on Monday 22/5/2023 a meeting to discuss the procedures for supporting and stimulating the pharmaceutical industry.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait; Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir; Advisor to the President for Health and Prevention Affairs Mohamed Awad Tag Eddin; President of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement Major-General Bahaa Eddine Zidan, Supply and Medical Technology Management (UPA); Tamer Essam, Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority; Mohamed Aboumoussa, First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE); Walid Anwar, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of University Hospitals; Gamal El-Laithy, Head of the Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry of the Egyptian Federation of Industries; Maged George, Chairman of the Export Council for Medical Industries (ECMI); and officials of ministries and concerned authorities. 

The Prime Minister stressed that this meeting aims to ensure the availability of sufficient quantities of medicines and various medical supplies, pointing out that there is continuous coordination with the CBE on the speedy release of raw materials, medicines and medical supplies, and to be a priority just like the priority given to basic foodstuffs. Dr. Madbouly referred to the importance of periodic follow-up of the file of providing raw materials and medical supplies to pharmaceutical factories in Egypt, and that there should be a safe stock for them, pointing out that this comes within the framework of ensuring the availability of sufficient quantities of all requirements related to the medical sector.

He stressed that this is the most appropriate time to localize and deepen the local manufacture of medicine, affirming that the State is currently ready to provide any incentives or facilitation for this sector along with other sectors so as to attain the desired economic goals, and to secure the various needs and requirements of such vital sectors.

For his part, the Minister of Trade said that he and the Minister of Health held a meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry, a number of officials in charge of the sector, and CBE officials, pointing out that there is a committee formed under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers to follow up the various needs of medical supplies and raw materials, stressing that the required priorities have been determined, and coordination in this regard is being done with the aim of advancing this important industry.

The head of the Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry showcased the medical sector's needs of raw materials and pharmaceutical supplies for several months, which contributes to providing safe and effective medicine to citizens, as well as preserving the economies of companies operating in this important sector.

The head of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) confirmed that continuous coordination is underway with the CBE officials in order to provide the necessary funding for the required pharmaceutical raw materials and others.

For his part, The CBE Deputy Governor pointed out that the provision of raw materials and medical supplies tops the strategic priorities agenda, reviewing the details of what has been made available from dollar financing for this sector, to secure various requirements and needs of those raw materials and medical supplies.

ECMI Chairman stressed the importance of providing the necessary funding to provide pharmaceutical raw materials, as this comes in light of the interest in deepening local manufacturing, especially with the strategic importance of the pharmaceutical industry.

"We have about 177 companies to manufacture medicine in Egypt," said the Advisor to the President, pointing out the importance of coordination and cooperation between those companies to diversify their products of medicines, and stressing that this can be implemented and will have important results.