Roche and Egypt's UPA sign MoU on sustainable healthcare procurement

Daily News Egypt

6 days ago

Roche Diagnostics Egypt has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement (UPA) to help integrate environmental sustainability into the country's healthcare procurement system.
The collaboration is aimed at supporting the UPA in embedding green procurement principles and sustainability frameworks across all phases of its healthcare procurement lifecycle, from planning and acquisition to waste management. The initiative is aligned with Egypt's Vision 2030 for Sustainable Development and its national goals for environmental stewardship and resource-efficient healthcare.
Under the terms of the agreement, Roche Diagnostics will provide strategic consultancy to support the UPA in embedding environmental sustainability across its procurement policies and operations. The partnership will include tailored capacity-building programmes, such as experience exchange initiatives and hands-on workshops, to equip UPA teams and other stakeholders with practical tools and global expertise.
Both parties will also co-develop a comprehensive procurement guideline, aligned with international practices, to facilitate environmentally responsible decision-making throughout the healthcare supply chain.
Dr. Liliane Kanaan, General Manager of Roche Diagnostics in Egypt and North Africa, commented: 'At Roche, we believe that a sustainable healthcare system is an imperative. This collaboration with UPA showcases our shared commitment to building resilient, environmentally responsible supply chains. Together, we are taking bold steps to create tangible impact by reducing the healthcare sector's environmental footprint, as well as shaping a procurement model that balances progress with planetary responsibility.'
The agreement comes as environmental sustainability becomes a greater priority in policy-making and procurement for governments and international organisations, which are increasingly recognising that responsible sourcing can reduce costs and improve health outcomes.
Environmentally conscious procurement can reduce harmful emissions, waste, and the use of hazardous materials, contributing to a cleaner ecosystem and fewer health risks from environmental degradation. It can also generate long-term cost efficiencies through more energy-efficient operations and streamlined supply chains, while enhancing the resilience of healthcare supply networks and encouraging innovation in eco-friendly materials and greener manufacturing practices.
The partnership is consistent with Roche's global sustainability strategy, which integrates environmental, social, and economic priorities across its operations. The company has committed to achieving real zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and embeds sustainability into its procurement by working with suppliers to reduce emissions and improve supply chain transparency.
Roche stated that most of its total carbon emissions are linked to its supply network, leading it to invest in initiatives such as the Sustainability Supplier Engagement Programme, the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), and the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI). These platforms are designed to help Roche and its partners collectively raise industry standards.
The MoU will allow the UPA to access Roche's participation in these global platforms, utilising international expertise and tested frameworks to support Egypt's sustainability agenda. By drawing on Roche's global networks, the collaboration positions Egypt to adopt procurement strategies that balance public health priorities with environmental stewardship, reinforcing Roche Diagnostics' role as a partner in developing Egypt's healthcare system.