Egypt expands pharmaceutical industry with 100% local cancer drug production

Egypt’s Ministry of Health said it has successfully localised the full manufacturing process of advanced cancer drugs that were previously imported. The initiative is expected to guarantee a steady domestic supply of high-quality medicines while reducing treatment costs for patients nationwide, reports Sada el-Balad, a partner of TV BRICS.

According to ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt had been spending about US$265 million annually on imported cancer drugs. Of this, roughly US$100–120 million came from state funding for public treatment programmes, while US$160 million was covered through national health insurance. 

Ghaffar stressed that the achievement represents complete local manufacturing, not just packaging or assembly. The locally made drugs include chemotherapy, targeted, and biological treatments, among the most complex pharmaceutical categories worldwide. He noted that Egypt has now acquired the necessary technology and expertise to produce these medicines domestically.

The spokesperson added that the financial benefit is significant, with local production expected to generate savings exceeding 400 per cent compared with the cost of imported drugs. These savings, he said, will allow the government to expand patient coverage and improve long-term drug availability without increasing healthcare budgets.

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