CAIRO, Dec 11 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) Ali al-Ghamrawy at the government’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) Thursday to review a number of the authority’s work files.
During the meeting, Ghamrawy reviewed the National Drug Tracking Project, which aims to build a national system for tracking pharmaceutical products, starting from the production or import stage until they reach the patient, in accordance with the global standards issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).
He indicated that the project aims to enhance transparency, combat counterfeiting, and ensure the availability and safety of medications.
He explained that the organizational guide for the project has been completed, and work is currently underway to prepare the pilot version of the system using experimental data, in preparation for the launch of the first phase next year.
Ghamrawy also clarified during the meeting that the national tracking system works to register and monitor the drug’s path through all its stages until it reaches the citizen.
Each drug package contains four serial numbers which include: (the drug code, the batch number, the unique serial number for each package, and the expiry date).
These data are verified at all stages to ensure the safety of the drug and prevent its counterfeiting or imitation until it reaches pharmacies or hospitals.
He added that the National Tracking System within the EDA provides a comprehensive and accurate view of drug movements, from the moment of production until it reaches the patient, through real-time reports that help detect any problems or attempts at manipulation.
He stressed that this system provides accurate information on the actual distribution of medicines, consumption volume, and available stock, which significantly contributes to protecting the state by preventing the circulation of counterfeit drugs and reducing misuse and waste.
Ghamrawy also touched upon several other files the authority is working on, noting EDA’s keenness to enhance cooperation with international organizations and institutions in the field of implementing Artificial intelligence (AI) in the pharmaceutical system.
He said cooperation is underway with officials from the international “Gates Foundation” to support innovation and promote the utilization of AI technologies in areas of pharmaceutical regulation.
Ghamrawy noted that the authority successfully passed the periodic review for ISO 9001:2015 certification, as part of its continuous efforts to enhance the efficiency of the supervisory system and improve institutional performance. (MENA)
