Today, Dr. Ali El-Ghamarawi, Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority, participated in the first national executive conference for the One Health strategy, under the patronage and attendance of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population. The conference brought together stakeholders concerned with health and population issues, under the title ""Implementing the National Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance,"" which poses a global threat to health and development.
In his speech, Dr. Ali El-Ghamarawi, Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority, emphasized that the expansion and development witnessed by the Egyptian healthcare sector indicate that Egypt is moving forward in the right direction towards the growth and improvement of healthcare services, according to ambitious rates. This is in line with the vision of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of the Republic. He also stated that the Egyptian Drug Authority is an active and integrated partner with various ministries and authorities in implementing strategic plans to envision and achieve a better future for Egyptian society's health.
He explained that rationalizing the use of antibiotics and preserving their effectiveness is necessary to combat the growing threats to public health, resist the causes and exacerbation of diseases. This conference confirms the integration and cooperation between different sectors and the collaboration among various healthcare institutions, authorities, and international organizations. This is to enhance awareness, provide guidance, and take necessary measures to tackle this problem and reduce its impact on the current and future generations. Misuse of antibiotics poses a risk to human, animal, and environmental health, and has a negative effect on the global economy and various development axes. Antimicrobial resistance is considered one of the top 10 global health threats.
The efforts of the Egyptian Drug Authority to combat antimicrobial resistance were reviewed, which consisted of four main axes:
Monitoring the consumption of antimicrobials: The Egyptian drug Authority (EDA) joined the Global Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance System (GLASS-AMC) in 2020. Annual rates of antimicrobial consumption are calculated at the national level. This contributes to decision-making, policy development, and regulations for antimicrobials.
Collaboration with international institutions and state organizations to address this threat and mitigate its consequences: The Egyptian Drug Authority is a member of the International Regulatory Agencies Network for AMR (RAGNA), which aims to exchange expertise and develop different proposals related to antimicrobial resistance from a unified health perspective. In addition, EDA participates in various meetings and summits organized by the World Health Organization. also EDA contributed to the development of the national strategic framework for One Health in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Furthermore, the Authority has played a role in applying governance for the use of antimicrobials in different healthcare institutions.
The Egyptian Drug Authority has also adopted the axis of awareness regarding antimicrobial resistance, which is one of the fundamental pillars in the plan to combat antimicrobial resistance and regulate its dispensing. The Egyptian Drug Authority has worked on raising awareness and providing training to different groups, such as community awareness, awareness for pharmacists working in hospitals and public pharmacies, and awareness for university students, especially pharmacy students (the pharmacists of the future).
The Egyptian Drug Authority seeks to enhance knowledge and evidence-based practices through publications of the National Committee for the Rational Use of Antimicrobials, ""which formulated by the Egyptian Drug Authority."" This committee includes various entities such as the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Higher Education, the General Authority for Healthcare, and the World Health Organization, in addition to experts from several organizations. The goal of this committee is to reduce unsafe and inappropriate use of antimicrobials, which will have a positive impact on Egyptian patients.
This aligns with the efforts of the Egyptian Drug Authority to achieve the goals of sustainable development. The conference provides an opportunity for all stakeholders and those involved in the healthcare sector to emphasize the importance and necessity of integration and coordination among all state institutions in order to provide the best medical services to Egyptian citizens. It serves as a continuation of the efforts made by the Authority in collaboration with relevant Egyptian ministries and authorities in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, in accordance with the latest global health standards."