Egypt's pharmaceutical market, valued at EGP 308 billion, is among the largest in the region, with over 12,000 registered drugs and annual sales of 3.6 billion units, Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) Chairman Ali El-Ghamrawy stated, as per a Cabinet statement. Antimicrobials account for 887 products, totalling 376 million units sold, with 55 per cent dispensed without prescriptions, he added. Speaking at the Second National Conference on Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), El-Ghamrawy outlined Egypt's strategy for responsible antimicrobial use, structured around three key pillars. The first focuses on monitoring antimicrobial consumption, as the EDA has joined the WHO's Global Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance System (GLASS-AMR) to track national usage and compare it internationally. Additionally, regulatory measures include restricting the sale of certain antibiotics to prescription-only and developing a national watchlist to limit unsafe use. The second pillar emphasises collaboration with local and international institutions, with the EDA working with WHO, the FAO, and veterinary authorities on training programmes and national AMR strategies. The third pillar centres on public awareness, represented in campaigns to educate pharmacists, healthcare workers, and university students, promoting responsible antibiotic use through education and community engagement. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
