Egypt's pharmaceutical market surged to 309 billion Egyptian pounds in 2024, up 43 per cent year-on-year from 216 billion pounds in 2023, according to data presented at the 15th board meeting of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) on Tuesday. The sharp increase underscores continued growth in Egypt's healthcare sector despite global headwinds, with officials crediting expanding demand and regulatory support. The meeting also reviewed progress on EDA's digital transformation strategy, including automation initiatives aimed at boosting service efficiency and institutional performance. Global Recognition and Regional Leadership The EDA highlighted its rising international profile, having secured WHO Maturity Level 3 for pharmaceutical regulatory systems in December 2024—following similar recognition in the vaccine sector in 2022. Its laboratories also received accreditation from both the WHO and the European Union, designating them as reference labs for quality control. The authority has strengthened its role in regional regulatory training, delivering 12 capacity-building programmes last year to countries including Libya, Yemen, Ghana, and Algeria. In line with this, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) designated EDA's Centre for Continuous Professional Development as a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence (RCORE), enabling it to lead training across Africa and the Arab region. Digital Training Rollout The EDA also launched a pilot version of its new Learning Management System (LMS), part of a broader effort to modernise training for pharmacy graduates and streamline internship programmes. The developments reflect Egypt's ambition to position itself as both a regional pharmaceutical hub and a global reference point for regulatory excellence. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
