Egypt Pledges Stricter Controls on Psychotropic Drugs Amid Concerns Over Misuse and Smuggling
Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, has called for stronger control over the distribution of pharmaceuticals, especially psychotropic drugs, in response to rising concerns regarding misuse, addiction, and illicit export.
During the 15th board meeting of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), held via video link, Abdel Ghaffar stressed the critical need to protect public health by ensuring that high-risk medicines are dispensed only to patients with legitimate medical needs and under professional supervision.
He stated, “Differentiating between medically supervised use and illicit consumption is essential to tackling drug abuse and its societal repercussions.” The Ministry of Health is coordinating with other key governmental bodies to strengthen regulatory mechanisms in this area.
The meeting included several high-level figures, such as Kamel Al-Wazir (Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport), Hassan El-Khatib (Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade), Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din (Presidential Advisor for Health Affairs), and Ali El-Ghamrawy (President of the EDA), along with senior figures from pharmaceutical procurement and accreditation agencies.
Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar presented updates on the pharmaceutical market for 2023 and 2024, emphasizing improvements in raw material availability and strategic reserves. These advances have strengthened Egypt's pharmaceutical supply chain, helping insulate it from global disruptions.
Notably, 91% of medicines sold in Egypt are produced locally, positioning Egypt as a leader in pharmaceutical self-sufficiency in the region. In 2023, pharmaceutical exports reached around $1.1 billion, underlining Egypt’s increasing competitiveness internationally.
The board also discussed the EDA’s 2025/2026 budget, focusing on expanding regulatory capabilities and ensuring widespread access to safe, effective medicine.
Efforts are underway to achieve international accreditation for the EDA—including recognition by the World Health Organization and the European Union—to establish Egypt as a global benchmark in pharmaceutical regulation.
Ali El-Ghamrawy, President of the EDA, noted the Ministry’s support and emphasized transparency and digital modernization. Plans are ongoing for a large-scale digital transformation to detect irregularities and better monitor controlled substances, particularly psychotropics.
Presidential Health Advisor Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din raised alarm over Egypt’s per capita medicine consumption, which he stated exceeds global averages and represents a “serious challenge” requiring improved regulation and public awareness campaigns. He also voiced concerns over the significant quantities of pharmaceuticals being illicitly exported abroad—often to relatives or intermediaries—thereby undermining national stockpiles.
Tag El-Din said the government is working with security and regulatory agencies to address medication smuggling and ensure fair access for all Egyptians. He also highlighted Egypt’s rising role in international pharmaceutical governance, noting that other countries are looking to Egyptian regulations as a model to follow.
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Source: Daily News Egypt