PM stresses strengthening Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry, regulatory system

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly highlighted the importance of the pharmaceutical sector as a crucial area receiving substantial state support, due to its essential role in addressing citizens' needs. He emphasized the necessity of continuing to enhance Egypt's domestic pharmaceutical industry, promote the localization of pharmaceutical and medical-supplies production, and boost local output to meet market demands, decrease reliance on imports, and create new opportunities for Egyptian pharmaceutical exports, while upholding the highest standards of quality and efficacy.

During a meeting on September 13, 2026, with the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) Chairman Ali al-Ghamrawy, Madbouly reviewed several files and the latest initiatives aimed at developing Egypt's pharmaceutical system and boosting its capabilities. Al-Ghamrawy discussed the EDA's efforts to secure recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO) for regulating domestically produced medicines and vaccines.

He revealed that Egypt has achieved Maturity Level 3 for both medicines and vaccines, making it the first African country to accomplish this feat in both domains. Al-Ghamrawy reported that WHO's ongoing recognition of Egypt's pharmaceutical regulatory system at Maturity Level 3 underscores the efficiency, stability, and integration of the regulatory framework, confirming its capacity to function in accordance with international standards.

The WHO recognition offers various benefits, such as reinforcing Egypt's leadership at the regional and global levels, enhancing its influence on shaping pharmaceutical policies and standards, and facilitating active participation in global pharmaceutical discussions through collaboration with international and regional organizations.

Additionally, the authority is working on improvements and upgrades to progress to WHO-accredited Maturity Level 4. Al-Ghamrawy reviewed the WHO assessment visit's key findings, which indicated higher implementation levels across the authority's various regulatory functions and areas of responsibility.

Al-Ghamrawy confirmed that Egypt is following the standard WHO reassessment procedures, promoting continuous improvement and the sustainability of the achieved maturity level. He also highlighted the EDA's success in obtaining WHO prequalification and accreditation for the authority's pharmaceutical control laboratories, describing this as a significant international accomplishment that highlights the authority's technical and regulatory progress, boosting confidence in Egypt's pharmaceutical regulatory system.

Prime Minister Madbouly congratulated al-Ghamrawy and all EDA staff on this remarkable international achievement. He underscored Egypt's accomplishment in attaining WHO Maturity Level 3 for medicines, alongside its previous attainment of the same level for vaccines, as a global milestone that showcases the advancement of Egypt's pharmaceutical system and the state institutions' commitment to meeting international standards.

Madbouly encouraged the preservation of the gains achieved and the advancement of the development process toward higher levels of excellence and international recognition, further solidifying Egypt's position and leadership in the pharmaceutical sector at the regional and global levels.