Uganda, Egypt forge stronger ties in pharmaceutical sector at AfriSummit 2024

At the recently concluded AfriSummit 2024, held in Cairo, Uganda and Egypt strengthened their cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector.

A key meeting was held between the Ugandan Ambassador, officials from the Ugandan Ministry of Health, and Dr. Hisham Stait, Vice Chairman of Egypt’s Unified Procurement Authority (UPA).

Representatives of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) were also present.

Also Read: Refugee children in Egypt face barriers to education amid residency, financial hurdles

The discussions centered on advancing collaboration in pharmaceutical development, with the shared objective of ensuring the availability of safe and approved medicines while fostering sustainable growth in Africa’s healthcare sector.

The Ugandan delegation praised Egypt’s progress in pharmaceutical manufacturing and its rigorous quality control measures, emphasizing the country’s role as a model for Africa.

Uganda expressed interest in utilizing Egypt’s expertise to enhance its healthcare infrastructure and pharmaceutical policies. Dr. Stait reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to support Uganda’s pharmaceutical needs, underlining Egypt’s commitment to fostering partnerships with African nations to bolster healthcare integration and innovation across the continent.

A significant outcome of the meeting was the agreement to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Egyptian Drug Authority and Uganda’s Ministry of Health. This MoU aims to streamline the approval process for Egyptian medicines in Uganda and facilitate Egypt’s market expansion in Africa.

Achievements at AfriSummit 2024
This meeting was among the highlights of AfriSummit 2024, which brought together ambassadors, ministers, and healthcare professionals from across Africa. Over 80 regulatory and pharmaceutical experts and more than 300 healthcare practitioners participated in discussions addressing Africa’s healthcare challenges. The summit facilitated the signing of numerous bilateral and multilateral agreements aimed at boosting pharmaceutical manufacturing, distribution, and regulatory harmonization.

The event emphasized the importance of unity among African nations in tackling healthcare challenges and promoting health security. It also reinforced the role of AfriSummit as a critical platform for advancing collaboration in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.