Egyptian Drug Authority participated in the workshop organized by the Export Council for Medical Industries, chaired by Dr. Mohie Hafez, with the participation of Dr. Tamer Elhossieny, to discuss means of enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products and increasing their access to regional and international markets, particularly in the African continent.
The workshop witnessed the participation of several representatives of relevant entities, including Dr. Khaled Alyan, Vice Chairman of the Council for the Medical Devices Sector; Dr. Mohamed Saeed, Head of the Medical Devices Division; Dr. Sherif Ezzat, Chairman of Life Care Medical Devices Company; Ambassador Mohamed Safwat, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Mari Gamal, representative of the Unified Procurement Authority; and Dr. Rasha Nasr, Executive Director of the Export Council for Medical Industries.
Dr. Tamer Elhossieny emphasized that the Egyptian Drug Authority is operating according to a clear strategic vision aimed at supporting local manufacturing and localizing medical industries, in addition to establishing an integrated roadmap to increase exports and strengthen Egypt’s presence in global markets, with a particular focus on the African market as one of the key strategic priorities.
Dr. Elhossieny reviewed the rapid growth witnessed by Egypt’s pharmaceutical and medical devices sector, noting that Egyptian exports of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies increased from approximately USD 950 million in 2023 to approximately USD 1.07 billion in 2024, and are continuing to grow during 2025 to reach approximately USD 1.3 billion, representing an annual growth rate estimated at around 21%. He further indicated that Egyptian exports to African countries increased from approximately USD 299 million in 2024 to approximately USD 324 million in 2025, achieving a growth rate estimated at around 8%.
Dr. Elhossieny also pointed out that the Egyptian Drug Authority’s attainment of Maturity Level 3 (ML-3) from the World Health Organization contributed to activating the Reliance system, leading several African countries to rely on the Authority’s assessments in product registration processes, thereby accelerating access to those markets.
He further reviewed the flexible regulatory policies adopted by the Authority to support manufacturers, including facilitating registration procedures through the acceptance of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates as an alternative to ISO 13485 certificates during specific stages, in addition to activating the Free Sale Certificate (FSC) issuance system, enabling Egyptian products to immediately participate in international tenders and bids.
The vice chairman also highlighted the authority's success in localizing several advanced medical industries, including ventilators, infant incubators, and intraocular lenses, stressing the continued provision of technical and consultative support to investors for transferring and localizing the latest technologies within the Egyptian market.
He concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the Egyptian Drug Authority represents a strategic partner for the national industry and works through its committees and various platforms to overcome challenges, thereby contributing to strengthening Egypt’s position as a leading regional hub for quality- and innovation-based manufacturing and exportation.
The Egyptian Drug Authority reaffirms its commitment to supporting and enhancing local manufacturing and the localization of the medical devices industry through the development of regulatory frameworks and the simplification of product registration procedures, via updated guidelines and templates issued by the Central Administration for Medical Devices.
This comes within the framework of the Authority’s commitment to presenting a comprehensive vision for the Egyptian pharmaceutical market and its exports, while maximizing the benefits of international agreements and regional initiatives and implementing innovative mechanisms that contribute to opening new markets and promoting the growth of Egyptian exports, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products regionally and internationally.