A first shipment of Egyptian drugs was shipped off to Zimbabwe by the Egyptian Drug Authority on 7 August. The shipment is as per a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed last May between Egypt, UAE and Zimbabwe to provide high-end Egyptian drugs to Zimbabwe. UAE is represented by its global medical consumables giant IntraPharma, and Egypt was involved through Gypto Pharma, represented by the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA). Gypto Pharma is the largest pharma city and pharmaceutical factory in the MENA region, with a production capacity of some 150 million packs of medicine annually. Gypto Pharma which was opened in 2021, stands on 180,000 sq.m. in Qalyubiya. IntraPharma is in partnership with Gypto Pharma.
According to Zimbabwean authorities, the Egyptian drugs are set to enhance drug stocks in their country, and ensure essential medicines are available at affordable prices at public health institutions. The Egyptian drugs were dispatched by Egypt’s Gypto Pharma,
Through the MoU, Zimbabwe aims to ensure its citizens have access to safe, affordable and effective medication. “Their [Egyptian] drugs are much cheaper than the traditional market where we import from,” Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Child Care, Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza told ZBC News. “So we should be seeing a marked reduction of prices of drugs not only for public hospitals but also for the private sector.”
Zimbabweans are also aspiring to replicate the Gypto Pharma experience through erecting their own pharma city near the Victoria Falls, with the help of the Egyptian and Emirati sides. The Zimbabwean pharma city is expected to cater for Zimbabwe’s needs as well as the needs of some 300 million people in south African countries.
To mark the dispatch of the first shipment of Egyptian drugs to Zimbabwe, EDA held an event which was attended by high ranking Egyptian, Emirati and Zimbabwean officials. Among the attendants were EDA Chairman, Tamer Essam; Presidential Advisor for Health and Prevention Affairs, Mohamed Awad Taj El-Din; UAE Ambassador to Egypt, Mariam Alkaabi; Zimbabwe Ambassador to Egypt, Sheba Shumbayaonda; and UAE Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jassim Al Qasimi.
EDA Chairman, Dr Essam stressed the strategic importance of Zimbabwe as the main gateway for Egyptian pharmaceuticals to enter to the south African region.
Dr Taj El-Din reminded of the firm presidential directives to support the development of African countries. He said that the shipment of Egyptian drugs to Zimbabwe is proof of the effectiveness and safety of Egyptian drugs. For her part, Ms Kaabi lauded the Egyptian-Emirati-Zimbabwean cooperation, and agreed with Dr Taj El-Din on the high quality of Egyptian pharmaceuticals. She said that such agreements open the door for further cooperation between the UAE and Egypt, as well as all African countries in various fields, particularly the pharma field.
Mr Shumbayaonda was happy to see the MoU signed earlier this year starting to bear fruit, commenting that this is a positive step on the right track. He said he is eager for more fruitful cooperation between EDA and the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.
During their participation in the Africa Health Excon in Cairo last June, the Zimbabwean delegation visited Gypto Pharma and were impressed by what they saw. “We have seen that what Gypto Pharma has done with major pharmaceutical companies all over the world is quite impressive and we want to jumpstart and have this programme which we have signed an MOU with Gypto Pharma Intra Pharma,” Zimbabwean Vice President General Retired Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care said. “We want this to come into Zimbabwe as quickly as we can, but in the meantime we have already finalised the issue to have the first shipment of drugs come to Zimbabwe.”
Watani International
8 August 2023