In a move to enhance pharmaceutical security, the Ministry of Health announces the localization of manufacturing for nine oncology and blood disorder treatments in partnership with the private sector
Cairo — Nohaad Imam
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, announced that Egypt has successfully localized the manufacturing of nine pharmaceutical products for the treatment of cancer and blood disorders in partnership with the private sector. He described this achievement as a serious step toward strengthening pharmaceutical security in accordance with the highest global quality standards, ensuring that Egyptian patients have access to their right to treatment.
During a press conference at the ministry headquarters, the minister emphasized that these nine products are being manufactured in Egypt for the first time and target six areas of cancer care, including liver, breast, and lung cancer, both types of leukemia, and immune thrombocytopenia. He highlighted the genuine cooperation and integration between the ministry, the Egyptian Drug Authority, and EIPICO Pharma.
Abdel Ghaffar added that localizing cancer and blood disorder treatments is a critical pathway to enhancing the sustainability of treatment availability, reducing vulnerability to disruptions in global supply chains, and supporting the therapeutic programs provided by the state through the ministry’s institutions, the health insurance system, and various health authorities. He clarified that success is not measured solely by the number of products manufactured locally, but by their availability, safety, quality, and sustainability.
He noted that local industry already covers more than 90% of Egypt’s pharmaceutical market needs, with self-sufficiency estimates reaching approximately 91.3%. Localization efforts have led to the substitution of more than 200 previously imported products, saving over $732 million annually. National efforts now target the localization of around 400 active pharmaceutical ingredients across 30 therapeutic groups, representing imports valued at approximately $1.6 billion. He affirmed that the true value lies in knowledge, technology, and specialized Egyptian human capital.
The minister outlined the state’s efforts to launch early detection initiatives for prostate, colon, and cervical cancers, commissioned, supported, and monitored by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi since 2023. These initiatives have successfully screened approximately 16.224 million citizens as of February 2026. He stressed the need to integrate early detection efforts with the provision of necessary treatments, noting that expanding local manufacturing directly contributes to increasing drug availability and ensuring its sustainability, particularly for diseases requiring specialized and high-cost treatments.
Citing the localization of hepatitis C treatment as a prominent model demonstrating the importance of local manufacturing in supporting health efforts, the minister noted that the state has made these drugs available to citizens free of charge, in parallel with detection and treatment efforts, while affirming the country’s capacity for local production.
He welcomed such investments for their role in transferring knowledge and technology, developing Egyptian human capital, enhancing research and development, and building international partnerships that support the production of advanced therapies within the country.
In response to journalists’ questions, the minister affirmed that the state’s goal is to ensure the availability of pharmaceutical products, particularly cancer drugs. He stated that local manufacturing will make these drugs accessible in both the public and private sectors, helping to provide medicines at prices affordable for Egyptian patients. He pointed to the trend of importing raw materials and manufacturing them locally to offer multiple alternatives at reasonable prices.
He emphasized the quality and efficiency of Egyptian medicines, 91% of which are produced locally in Egyptian factories, and which enjoy accreditation from local and international regulatory bodies as well as export opportunities. He affirmed the state’s commitment to supporting both the public and private sectors in the pharmaceutical industry by facilitating registration procedures and upgrading production lines to encourage investment and localize the industry.
For his part, Dr. Riad Armanios announced during the conference that his company aims to add 12 new therapeutic ingredients by 2029 and expand coverage to 11 disease areas in oncology and hematology, targeting a cumulative reach of approximately 50,000 patients. He stressed that localization is not complete with production alone but is linked to building a comprehensive system encompassing quality, sustainability, and treatment accessibility for patients.
