Today, the Egyptian Drug Authority participated in the conference organized by the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce in cooperation with the Egyptian Patent Office, along with several international and local companies. The importance of the conference lies in being the first practical application of the cooperation protocol signed on January 4, 2024, between the Egyptian Drug Authority and the Egyptian Patent Office. The goal of this protocol is to raise awareness about intellectual property rights, enhance their protection, and encourage companies to invest through research, development, and optimal use of resources.
EDA was represented by Dr. Mohamed El Demerdash, Deputy of the State Council Chairman and Legal Counsel to the Egyptian Drug Authority, Dr. Rasha Ziadah Egyptian Drug Authority Chairman's Assistant for Technical Development and Capability Building Affairs, General Ihab Farouk, Head of Central Administration of General Secretary, Dr. Radwa Elmoneer, Head of Central Administration of Pharmaceutical Policies and Market Access and Supervisor of Central Administration of Chairman Office , Dr. Asmaa Fouad, Head of Central Administration of Biologicals, Innovative Products & Clinical Studies, Dr. Yasin Ragaey Afify, Head Of Central Administration of Operations, Dr. Hamada Sherif, Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority Associate for Awareness and Community Communication, and other employees that participate in the mentioned event.
In her speech, Dr. Rasha Ziadah affirmed that the Egyptian Drug Authority aims to ensure the continuous availability of medications in the Egyptian market while guaranteeing the quality, effectiveness, and safety of the circulating medical products. She also highlighted that the role of the Egyptian Drug Authority is not limited to the traditional regulatory role of globally recognized health authorities. It extends to include essential regulation of the rational use of medical products and providing investment opportunities with a package of distinctive and attractive incentives for national and international investors. This non-traditional role of the Authority aims to enhance the investment in the pharmaceutical industry, achieve medication security as one of the channels to ensure the patients’ right to treatment, and to reach the goals of Egypt Vision 2030.
As she explained, the Egyptian Drug Authority cooperates with all relevant parties in developing the medical products industry, and obtaining international accreditations contributes to the localization and deepening of the localization of medical products and supplies, and grants Egyptian medical products a competitive advantage in regional and international markets.
She concluded her speech by expressing gratitude and appreciation to the German Chamber for organizing the conference and the attendees. She confirmed that enhancing the efficiency of the Egyptian pharmaceutical system requires cooperation with international regulatory bodies and national and international industry partners to transfer innovative technology and exchange knowledge, and build capacities.
The symposium included three sessions; the first discussed the key concepts related to the protection of intellectual property rights according to the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Law issued by Law No. 82 of 2002, supporting the registration of innovative products, and the role of the Egyptian Patent Office in facilitating pharmaceutical companies' access to patents. It also emphasized the importance of providing information to companies in order to develop research and scientific studies related to the sustainability of the development and innovation process.
The second session discussed the role of the Egyptian Drug Authority in enhancing the availability of medical products for Egyptian patients, providing technical and procedural support for the registration of numerous medical products within a short period of time, as well as the role of digital transformation in facilitating registration procedures and ensuring tangible communication with Egyptian citizens.
The third session highlighted the development of Egyptian production lines over the past few years and their role in supporting advanced industries and domestic production of innovative products. This significantly contributes to the localization plans and deepening of localization of the pharmaceutical industries domestically and opens up global markets for Egyptian medical products and supplies.
This comes within the framework of the Egyptian Drug Authority's commitment to enhancing the capabilities of the Egyptian pharmaceutical market and ensuring its international obligations regarding the protection of intellectual property rights in accordance with the TRIPS Agreement. The authority operates according to a flexible national strategy that balances the protection of industry rights, availability of information, and provision of medical products that meet the needs of the Egyptian citizens, in line with the commitments of the Egyptian Drug Authority towards them.
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