Mustafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister of Egypt, in a meeting on Sunday, September 13, 2026, with Ali Al-Ghamrawi, the head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, emphasized the importance of the pharmaceutical industry as one of the vital sectors that has attracted the government's special attention. Madbouly pointed out that this industry plays a direct and significant role in meeting the basic needs of citizens.
Developing Domestic Pharmaceutical Industry Capacities
The Prime Minister of Egypt stressed the need to continue efforts to strengthen the capacity of the domestic pharmaceutical industry, support the localization of drug and medical equipment production, and increase domestic production to meet market needs. He also emphasized the necessity of reducing dependence on imports and creating new prospects for Egypt's pharmaceutical exports while maintaining the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
Read more: The United States government asked Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries
In this session, Ali Al-Ghamrawi reviewed the efforts of the Egyptian Drug Authority to gain recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the oversight of locally produced drugs and vaccines. He stated that the organization has achieved a maturity level of 3 for drugs and previously attained the same level for vaccines in March 2022, allowing Egypt to become the first country in Africa to achieve this success in both areas.
Global Perspective and Regulatory Advancements
Al-Ghamrawi continued that the ongoing recognition of Egypt's drug regulatory system at maturity level 3 by the WHO indicates the efficiency, stability, and integrity of the regulatory framework and its ability to perform its duties in accordance with international standards. He also mentioned the benefits of this recognition, which include strengthening Egypt's leadership at Arab and African levels and enhancing its role in shaping the global pharmaceutical landscape.
Furthermore, Al-Ghamrawi emphasized that the organization is continuing to work on several necessary improvements and upgrades to progress to the maturity level 4 approved by the WHO. He referred to key findings from the WHO assessment visit that indicate high levels of implementation in various regulatory functions and the areas of responsibility of this organization.
The Prime Minister of Egypt congratulated Ali Al-Ghamrawi and the staff of the Egyptian Drug Authority for this international achievement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the attained accomplishments and advancing in the development process towards higher levels of credibility and international recognition. Madbouly also highlighted the important role of the Drug Authority in strengthening the regulatory framework governing the pharmaceutical industry.
Read more: Prabowo Subianto: The collective power of BRICS must turn into real opportunities for people · Sisi's visit to Moscow: Strengthening Egypt-Russia relations amid regional crises
