Amira Mahgoub, head of the Central Department of Pharmaceutical Inspection at the Egyptian Drug Authority, confirmed that the second phase of the initiative, which will run for three months and conclude at the end of October, has resulted in the withdrawal of expired packages from pharmacies to distributors, with a total withdrawal rate of 94.2%, representing more than 17 million expired units, out of a total of 18 units.
She confirmed that more than 15,000 pharmacies, out of the total number of pharmacies from which expired units were withdrawn, submitted declarations stating that some expired items were not owned by the company with which they were registered, and that they had been handed over to another distribution company. This was in parallel with the production companies receiving the expired units in preparation for their destruction.
She explained that the Tawasul Authority is following up on the implementation of the initiative to withdraw expired medicines from the market, which is one of the most important steps in tightening control over the Egyptian pharmaceutical market.
The Egyptian pharmaceutical market is considered one of the most vital markets in the region. Egypt boasts more than 80,000 pharmacies and produces approximately 90% of its pharmaceutical needs locally, with a market value exceeding 150 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately $3 billion) annually, according to reports from the Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries for 2024.
The problem of expired medicines has been an ongoing challenge, posing a risk to public health due to the potential loss of potency or the decomposition of their components into harmful substances.
In 2023, the Egyptian Drug Authority launched an initiative to remove expired medications from pharmacies and warehouses, in cooperation with the Pharmacists Syndicate and production and distribution companies. The initiative aims to clean up the market and boost confidence in the healthcare system.
The first phase of the initiative, which concluded in July 2024, resulted in the withdrawal of approximately 10 million expired drug units, while the second phase, which began in August, focused on enhancing oversight and coordination among various agencies.
This initiative comes within the framework of a broader strategy to develop Egypt's healthcare sector, in line with Egypt Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of healthcare services. More than 150 pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution companies are participating, and subcommittees in 27 governorates are overseeing the initiative's implementation.
