Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad met with representatives of Medix Advanced Solutions on Wednesday.
The two sides discussed the establishment of a comprehensive national system for the safe management of pharmaceutical waste, as part of Egypt’s efforts to strengthen integrated waste management and advance the transition to a circular economy.
Awad underscored that pharmaceutical waste is a critical environmental and public health issue, warning that the improper disposal of unused and expired medicines can lead to soil and water contamination and pose significant risks to human health and the environment.
She noted that Egypt, one of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the region, handles substantial volumes of medicines annually, resulting in the accumulation of unused and expired products in households, pharmacies and distribution channels. This, she said, highlights the need for a modern collection and management framework, developed in coordination with the Egyptian Drug Authority, to ensure the safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste and prevent its illegal recirculation.
During the meeting, Medix Advanced Solutions presented a proposal for a nationwide pharmaceutical waste management system built on a digital network connecting households and pharmacies to facilitate the collection of unused and expired medicines.
The company also outlined a digital platform leveraging integrated databases and big data analytics to track the entire pharmaceutical waste lifecycle, generate reports for government entities, strengthen regulatory oversight and help prevent the illegal redistribution or misuse of expired medications.
The proposed system would also support the recovery and recycling of valuable packaging materials, including plastics, glass, aluminium, paper and metals, contributing to environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.
