The strategy is built on five key pillars: developing the Egyptian pharmaceutical market, localizing pharmaceutical manufacturing, enhancing exports, strengthening international recognition and regulatory leadership, and accelerating digital transformation and pharmaceutical track-and-trace systems.
Egypt’s pharmaceutical market reached EGP 422 billion (approximately USD 8.5 billion) in 2025, with a 37% increase in value compared to 2024 and a compound annual growth rate of around 15%, nearly double the global average. These achievements have elevated Egypt to 26th place globally in pharmaceutical market size, with a target of joining the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical markets by 2030.
To support this growth, the EDA continues to expand access to innovative medicines, strengthen local manufacturing capabilities, and increase the availability of high-value and complex pharmaceutical products. The number of pharmaceutical products available in the Egyptian market has grown from approximately 8,500 to more than 10,000 products, while ongoing efforts support the implementation of Universal Health Insurance and broader access to healthcare services.
Pharmaceutical localization remains a strategic priority, with local production covering approximately 91% of pharmaceutical products. The Authority is also implementing a plan to localize the manufacturing of the top 50 imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which represent nearly 78% of total human pharmaceutical API imports.
On the export front, pharmaceutical exports reached approximately USD 1.3 billion by the end of 2025. The target is to increase exports to USD 3 billion by 2030, including USD 1.34 billion directed to African markets. The vision extends beyond exports to establishing regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs across Africa, supporting technology transfer, local production, and sustainable pharmaceutical security.
The EDA has also achieved significant regulatory milestones, including obtaining WHO Maturity Level 3 (ML3) for both medicines and vaccines and being designated as one of only seven Regional Training Centres for Biomanufacturing worldwide. These achievements reinforce Egypt’s position as a trusted regional centre of regulatory excellence.
Digital transformation remains a key enabler of this vision through the implementation of eCTD, digital registration platforms, automated regulatory services, integrated databases, and the continued expansion of Egypt’s pharmaceutical track-and-trace system. Future plans include integrating artificial intelligence to support proactive regulation, risk management, faster decision-making, and enhanced product safety.