Dr. Ali El-Ghamrawy, Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), recently received a World Health Organization (WHO) delegation from the Local Production and Assistance Unit, who visited EDA for two consecutive days, with the aim of cooperating in the field of training on biomanufacturing, meeting regional needs and visiting some pharmaceutical factories.
The WHO's delegation included Dr. Alan Fauconnier, Technical Officer of the Local Production & Assistance Unit, WHO Headquarters; Phua Wee Ling, Consultant at WHO Headquarters; Dr. Houda Langar, Regional Advisor for Access to Medicines and Vaccines at the WHO EMRO; Dr. Adi Nuseirat, Technical Officer for Access to Medicines and Vaccines at the WHO EMRO; Dr. Nima Abed, Head of the WHO Egypt; and Dr. Mona Maarouf, Pharmaceutical and Medical Products Officer, WHO Office in Egypt.
Dr. Ali Al- Ghamrawy welcomed the WHO delegation and affirmed the EDA's gratitude for the WHO’s efforts to support the regulatory system in Egypt. He emphasized the authority's keenness to improve public health for Egyptian citizens, enhance the pharmaceutical industry, and develop the regulatory system. He explained that the EDA seeks to benefit from WHO training programs, operates according to the WHO reference system, and is keen to obtain the latest updates from the organization to support the Egyptian pharmaceutical system and bring it to the highest international levels in regulation, control, and governance of the drug market.
Dr. Alain Fauconnier praised the commitment and attention paid by the Authority's leadership to bio-manufacturing training and meeting regional needs, as well as the significant and advanced capabilities that Egypt possesses in this field. Dr. Nima Abed, affirmed the efforts made to support the development of the expertise and skills necessary for the pharmaceutical industry.
The delegation conducted field visits to Biogeneric and Eva Pharma factories, in line with the objective of bio-manufacturing training at local factories with advanced manufacturing capabilities.
The visit was attended by Dr. Tamer El-Husseiny, Vice Chairman of the EDA; Dr. Rasha Ziada, Assistant Chairman of the EDA for Technical Development and Capacity Building Affairs; Dr. Amany Gawdat, Associate to the EDA Chairman and Supervisor of the Central Administration of the Chairman Office; Dr. Sherine Abdel Gawad, Head of the Central Administration of Pharmaceutical Care; Dr. Asmaa Fouad, Head of the Central Administration of Biological, Innovative Products and Clinical Studies; Dr. Osama Hatem, Associate to the EDA Chairman for Policy and International Cooperation and Supervisor of the Central Administration of Pharmaceutical Policies and Market Access; Dr. Amira Mahgoub, Head of the Central Administration of Operations; Dr. Wedian Younis, Head of the Central Administration of Drug Control; Dr. Dalia Abu Hussein, General Manager of the Quality Assurance Department; Dr. Amal Abdullah, Executive Manager of the Center for Continuous Professional Development; and Dr. Sondos Mohamed El-Saeed, Manager of the Administration for International Organizations Cooperation at the Head of Authority's Office.
In recognition of the importance and role of all stakeholders in the ecosystem, the visit witnessed active participation of national industry partners and partners from research and academic institutions. The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Mohamed El Azizi, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology at the German University in Cairo, Prof. Hans Breitinger, Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology at the German University in Cairo, and Prof. Khaled Abu Eisha, Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology at the German University in Cairo.
This comes within the framework of the EDA's endeavor to have the capacity and work proactively and sustainably to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of vaccines and biological products that require high technology and manufacturing skill and necessitate the development of advanced training programs that meet the needs of the local and regional markets. This is reflected in the development of a comprehensive infrastructure for this industry and contributes to strengthening the national economy and enhancing Egypt's position as a regional center for the manufacture of vaccines and advanced biological products, and the Authority is always striving to support ways of cooperation with various international bodies, and emphasize its regional leadership in the field of regulation and control of biological products and the development of this industry.