The Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, confirmed that locally manufactured generic drugs have the same effectiveness and quality as imported alternatives.
He pointed out that the insistence of some citizens buying imported insulin constitutes an unjustified drain on foreign currencies in light of the availability of a local product that fully covers the market’s needs.
Abdel Ghaffar explained that the concept of "generic medicine" means that the chemical composition is exactly the same as the original medicine, with the only difference being the trade name.
He pointed out that Egypt has four companies specializing in the production of methyl insulin that rely on importing raw materials from leading global manufacturers, which are the same materials used in similar global products, making the quality of the local product exactly equal to its imported counterpart.
The minister added that local insulin production meets and exceeds the needs of the Egyptian market, confirming a surplus in manufacturing. He emphasized that the state is not obligated to provide foreign currency for importing medicines that have highly effective local alternatives, stating that anyone wishing to obtain the imported product can purchase it at their own expense.
In a related context, Abdel Ghaffar stressed that pharmacies in Egypt are subject to a strict mandatory pricing system, where no pharmacist has the right to increase prices even by a small amount, noting that violators face severe penalties that reach the point of closing the pharmacy and withdrawing the license by the Egyptian Drug Authority.
The minister explained that adjusting drug prices is not done in a random manner, but is subject to a precise economic equation that includes changes in interest rates, currencies and inflation rates.
He explained that any ten percent change in these factors is directly reflected in drug prices to ensure the continuity of production lines and maintain drug availability in the market. He urged citizens to report any pricing violations through the Egyptian Drug Authority's channels to protect consumers and ensure the stability of the pharmaceutical market.
