Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, met on Monday with Cuban Ambassador to Cairo, Alexander Pellicer, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector, with a particular focus on pharmaceutical manufacturing and vaccine technology, according to an official statement. The meeting, held at the Ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, highlighted the deep-rooted historical ties between Egypt and Cuba. Abdel Ghaffar described the cultural and human bonds between the two countries as a strong foundation for building strategic partnerships that serve shared development goals. Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar stated that the talks centred on supporting joint ventures in pharmaceutical production, sharing expertise, and promoting technology transfer—key priorities aligned with Egypt's Vision 2030 and its broader sustainable development objectives. The discussions also touched on potential cooperation in developing treatments for chronic health conditions such as diabetic foot complications and kidney disease. This aligns with Egypt's efforts to localise the production of critical medicines and improve the quality of healthcare services. The two sides reviewed ongoing joint projects between Cuba and Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA), including the transfer of vaccine production technologies for meningitis and pentavalent vaccines, as well as wider collaboration in the field of biotechnology. Ambassador Pellicer reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to expanding cooperation with Egypt in health, scientific research, and pharmaceuticals. He also commended Egypt's recent healthcare reforms and its proactive approach to building international partnerships.
