EDA, WHO to boost Egypt’s drug control system

By Ibrahim Mohamed

The Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority, Dr Ali el-Ghamrawy, received a high-level delegation from the World Health Organisation (WHO), headed by Dr Hiiti Sillo, leader of the WHO team.

The delegation included three levels of representation at WHO, namely the WHO headquarters team in Geneva, the Eastern Mediterranean Regional team, and the WHO representative team in Egypt.

The visit is part of the sustainable co-operation programme between the two sides aimed at strengthening the national regulatory system.

The delegation is going to review recent developments in the pharmaceutical sector in Egypt and discuss the plan for regulatory procedures for medical preparations.

The visit aims to maximise the strengths of EDA’s regulatory system, thereby enhancing its regional and international role.

El-Ghamrawy highlighted the Authority’s desire to promote and develop the pharmaceutical sector in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the localisation of the medical industry in Egypt.

He stressed EDA’s ongoing efforts to obtain high-level international accreditation. First of all, WHO’s accreditation in the field of pharmaceutical drugs.

These steps support enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian pharmaceutical products and medical supplies at the regional and international levels and opening new export markets to Egyptian drugs, as well as gaining the global reputation and trust of the major international institutions working in the health and pharmaceutical sectors, el-Ghamrawy said.

He also thanked WHO for its support, which helped to get sustainable results in tightening control over the circulation of medicines in Egypt’s drug market and the reputation of the Egyptian drug.

Sillo, for his part, lauded Egypt’s pivotal role in formulating regional health and drug policies.

He confirmed that the developments in the pharmaceutical sector during the current period in Egypt are significant and successful.

“It has a positive impact on the health of Egyptian citizens, as well as on the African continent and the Arab countries,” Sillo said.

Also, he praised the continuing efforts of EDA to be in line with WHO’s Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT).

The visit confirms EDA’s desire to cement its international partnerships and its role in supporting the pharmaceutical sector locally, regionally, and internationally.