Egypt officials assure quality and availability of local insulin

Egyptian health officials have addressed concerns regarding the availability and quality of insulin, asserting that locally produced insulin is a reliable alternative to imported versions. Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stated that the country has relied on local insulin for approximately 10 years, currently serving about 2.5 million citizens and 55,000 children with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes through health insurance and state-funded treatment systems.

To ensure quality, the Minister noted that raw materials are imported from two major global specialized companies. He emphasized that the Egyptian Drug Authority provides local oversight, complemented by international standards, noting that Egypt has achieved the third level of maturity in the World Health Organization’s regulatory system evaluations.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly also supported these assurances, stating that local alternatives match imported products in efficacy. While promoting domestic production to support the local pharmaceutical industry, officials clarified that the state will continue to import necessary medications to ensure availability in the private sector.