Egypt to Heighten Regulation of Psychotropic Drugs Amid Concerns of Misuse and Smuggling

Egypt is stepping up regulations on psychotropic drug distribution to address misuse and smuggling. Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar emphasized the need for strict oversight during a recent EDA meeting. Key advances in local drug production and export values were highlighted, alongside concerns regarding high medicine consumption per capita. Egypt aims to attain international drug regulatory recognition while enforcing stronger controls to safeguard public health.

Amid rising concerns over the misuse and smuggling of psychotropic drugs, Egypt is ramping up its controls on pharmaceutical distribution. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, made this clear during a recent meeting of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA). He emphasized that public health must be protected by ensuring these potent medications are dispensed under strict supervision and only to those with legitimate medical needs.

Speaking via video link during the EDA’s 15th board meeting, Abdel Ghaffar stated, “Differentiating between medically supervised use and illicit consumption is essential to tackling drug abuse and its societal repercussions.” He also mentioned that the Ministry of Health is joining forces with relevant agencies to strengthen regulations surrounding these substances.

Noteworthy attendees at the meeting included Kamel Al-Wazir, Minister of Transport, and Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. The discussions involved high-ranking officials who provided insights into the current state and future direction of Egypt’s pharmaceutical landscape.

According to ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the meeting reviewed crucial indicators for the pharmaceutical market for both 2023 and 2024. Improvements in raw material availability and strategic inventory levels were highlighted, which have positively impacted the domestic drug production landscape. Currently, an impressive 91% of medicines consumed in Egypt are locally produced.

Furthermore, Egypt’s pharmaceutical exports reportedly reached around $1.1 billion in 2023, positioning the nation as an emerging leader in the regional market. The discussions also touched on the proposed budget for the EDA for 2025/2026, which aims to bolster the authority’s regulatory reach and ensure the availability of safe medications.

The EDA is striving for international accreditation, including recognition from organizations like the World Health Organization and the European Union. Plans are underway to make the agency a global authority on pharmaceutical regulations, as shared by EDA President Ali El-Ghamrawy during the session. He lauded the ongoing support from the Ministry of Health and pledged a commitment to transparency and modernization.

El-Ghamrawy also revealed that a digital transformation is in progress, designed to enhance substance tracking and address irregularities, particularly concerning psychotropic drugs. In tandem with this initiative, Presidential Health Advisor Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din cautioned about Egypt’s significantly high per capita medicine consumption, labeling it a “serious challenge.”

Tag El-Din underscored the importance of public education and stricter regulations, voicing alarm over the illegal export of medications. He recounted instances where large quantities are smuggled abroad to supply informal markets, saying, “Some individuals routinely send pharmaceuticals overseas to family members or intermediaries, which undermines our national stockpiles.”

Efforts are being coordinated with security and regulatory organizations to tackle these challenges, ensuring that all Egyptian citizens have fair access to medications. He concluded with a nod towards Egypt’s growing influence in global pharmaceutical governance, suggesting that other nations are beginning to look at Egypt’s regulatory practices with interest, possibly setting the stage for a model worth following.

In summary, Egypt’s government is taking aggressive steps to enhance the regulation of psychotropic drugs, responding to concerns about misuse and smuggling. The emphasis on local production, international accreditation for the EDA, and a digital overhaul in monitoring controlled substances highlight the country’s commitment to improving public health standards. Meanwhile, challenges such as high per capita medicine consumption and illegal exports remain pressing issues, prompting continued attention and action from officials.

Original Source: www.dailynewsegypt.com