Dr. Tamer Elhossieny , Vice Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) and head of the main commission for Drafting the Egyptian Pharmacopoeia, held the sixteenth meeting at the Authority's headquarters. The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Consultant to the President of the Republic for Health and Prevention Affairs, Dr. Hisham Badr, Vice Chairman of the Unified Procurement Authority, in addition to representatives from the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, and representatives from universities and regulatory sectors of the Authority.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Tamer Elhossieny congratulated the attendees on the anniversary of the Sixth of October, stressing that this day represents a symbol of the strong Egyptian determination and will, and that holding the meeting on this date carries a special national significance that aligns with the spirit of hard work and ambition towards developing the pharmaceutical system.
Elhossieny also emphasized the importance of Egypt possessing an independent national pharmacopoeia that serves as a unified scientific and regulatory reference. This reference, he stated, should reflect the country's scientific and regulatory capabilities in the pharmaceutical industry and enhance the confidence of both the local and international communities in the quality and efficacy of Egyptian pharmaceutical products.
He pointed out that the launch of the fifth edition of Egyptian Pharmacopoeia is a national achievement that reflects the value of the scientific and technical efforts made by the commission in cooperation with the Authority’s sectors, universities, and research centers, ensuring it aligns with the latest global standards.
The meeting also addressed the mechanism for updating the Pharmacopoeia, where the commission emphasized the necessity of a continuous and flexible update process to keep pace with rapid scientific and legislative developments. They stressed that having a complete electronic version of the Pharmacopoeia contributes to facilitating the immediate entry of scientific amendments and additions, ensuring the information is accessible to all workers in the pharmaceutical sector, including regulatory, industrial, and research bodies.
The commission insisted that the goal is for the Pharmacopoeia to be a living and constantly renewed document that keeps pace with global standards and reflects the reality of the local market and the needs of the national industry.
In conclusion, the commission recommended preparing a simplified guide booklet to supplement the Pharmacopoeia, which would include therapeutic uses for medicines, proposed dosages, side effects, and contraindications. This aims to support the rational use of medicines and facilitate access to correct scientific information for medical and research professionals.
They also recommended expanding the scope of awareness about the Pharmacopoeia within Egyptian universities through workshops and scientific meetings in cooperation with faculties of pharmacy.
Participants from the Authority included Dr. Sherif Magdy, consultant to the Chairman and Legal Advisor of the Authority, and Vice President of the State Council, Dr. Wedyan Younis , Head of the Central Administration for Drug Control, and Dr. Asmaa Fouad , Head of Central Administration of Biologicals, Innovative Products & Clinical Studies.
The commission concluded the meeting by extending thanks to the commission members and working groups for their efforts in supporting the development of the Egyptian Pharmacopoeia, as a national scientific and regulatory reference that keeps pace with global developments and supports the Egyptian pharmaceutical industry.