Egypt celebrates production of 1st batch of locally-made insulin

CAIRO – 17 December 2024: Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority Aly al-Ghamrawy stated Tuesday - during the ceremony held to celebrate the production of the first batch of locally-made insulin - that the number of doses sold by the end of the third quarter of 2024 would amount to 1.47 million with sales worth LE1.13 billion, reducing the import bill by $30 million.

The drug is locally-made by two manufacturers in partnership with international ones, noting that negotiations to introduce the industry lasted for four years. The aim is exporting to African countries and not just fulfilling demand in the Egyptian market.

Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stated that the expenditure on drugs treating non-chronic diseases amounted to LE 3 billion per annum. Speaking of diabetes in specific, given that 15.5 percent of the Egyptian population are diabetic, including 55,000 children, 17 million doses are needed annually. Of which, 12 million used to be packaged locally.

The minister pointed out that Egypt has 170 pharmaceutical factories, producing 90 percent of drugs consumed locally.