He added that 90% of the registered drugs in the Egyptian market are produced by the private sector and multinational companies.

Egypt is ranked among the top countries in the world for drug consumption, as citizens have developed a habit of taking medication without prescriptions, Abdel Ghaffar said.

"Internationally, there is a push to rationalize the use of antibiotics. It is crucial to support the Egyptian Drug Authority in monitoring and controlling antibiotic consumption. This will greatly reduce both the amount of antibiotics used and the import costs," he emphasized.

Abdel Ghaffar also explained that the entire world operates using the scientific name of drugs rather than the commercial name. He pointed out that there are 10 to 12 products with the same active ingredient, underscoring the need to focus on generics or alternatives.

He stressed that the Egyptian Drug Authority is the entity responsible for drug registration, and it is crucial to support local manufacturing. "Citizens need to be informed that generics are equally effective."

The minister also called for focusing on pharmaceutical education in Egypt, enhancing the curriculum in pharmacy colleges, and promoting knowledge of scientific names.