President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Health Minister Ahmed Emad Eddin Rady to review efforts to upgrade the health system in Egypt. Rady briefed Sisi on efforts to secure medicines in the country, especially after the price hike that followed the liberalization of the exchange rate, presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said. Rady talked about his Ministry's plan to overcome a drug shortage problem through upping prices of some medicines and securing unavailable medicines - that is a short term solution, added the spokesman.
He also pointed to a medium term solution meant to rehabilitate State-owned pharmaceutical factories, the spokesman added. A long term solution would focus on expanding drug industry, Rady told the president.
The president stressed the need to increase the amount of medicines on the market, Youssef said. He also pressed for action to secure imported medicines that have no local alternative, Youssef added.
