Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector
Key discussion points included cooperation in training programmes aimed at building the capacity of healthcare professionals, particularly in the field of health economics and its critical role in informed decision-making. The talks also covered mechanisms to ensure the timely and consistent availability of Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical innovations, aligned with national efforts to modernise healthcare and introduce cutting-edge medicines that advance public health in Egypt.
During the meeting, Ghamrawy emphasised that the EDA attaches great importance to partnerships with leading international companies to help transfer expertise and technology. He added that this approach facilitates the registration and availability of modern medicines, supporting the state's plans to enhance the healthcare sector and achieve pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.
Ghamrawy also underlined the Authority's commitment to operating according to the latest international standards to meet patient needs and bolster the competitiveness of Egypt's pharmaceutical market. He pointed out that Egypt offers significant potential to attract foreign direct investment, thanks to recent regulatory and institutional reforms that have positioned the country as one of the region's most promising pharmaceutical markets.
For its part, the Johnson & Johnson delegation confirmed that this collaboration will help bring innovative pharmaceutical products to the Egyptian market, further strengthening Egypt's role as a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and exports. They also reaffirmed the company's commitment to making the latest medicines from Janssen—its pharmaceutical arm—available to Egyptian patients. The delegation expressed pride in its partnership with the EDA, which they described as a supportive environment for bringing the latest global pharmaceutical innovations to Egypt.
The Johnson & Johnson delegation included Ahmed El-Houfi, CEO and Chairperson for Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Sudan, and Ethiopia; Hatem Dawood, Director of Market Access and Government Affairs; Sara Sedky, Scientific Office Manager; and Hossam El-Badry, Head of Import and Distribution.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mada
a day ago
- Mada
Source: Al-Azhar grand imam withdrew call to save Gaza at foreign minister's request
Al-Azhar withdrew a Tuesday night statement in which it had called on 'active and influential forces' to stop Israel's genocidal war and mass starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. The following afternoon, it justified the withdrawal in a new statement from its media office in which it said it 'realized' the statement 'could affect the ongoing negotiations.' According to Al-Azhar, the decision to withdraw, which it called brave and responsible, came so the statement 'would not be used as an excuse to retreat from the negotiations or to bargain in them.' A source close to Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that Tayeb withdrew the statement after Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty urged him to do so, saying it may obstruct negotiations that are close to reaching a solution that would allow humanitarian aid to enter the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinians in Gaza have been under an almost total siege since March. The recalled statement came amid increasing global calls to end the war and stop Israel's mass starvation of Palestinians, as the number of people dying from starvation and malnutrition rises. Ten people died from malnutrition-related causes in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Muneer al-Barsh. Tuesday's statement called on 'active and influential forces to do their utmost' to compel Israel to halt its systematic killing of Palestinians, 'immediately allow the entry of humanitarian and relief aid, and open all avenues for treating the sick and injured whose health conditions have deteriorated as a result of the Occupation's targeting of hospitals and medical facilities, in flagrant violation of all divine laws and international conventions.' It was removed from its pages hours later without comment until the following afternoon. The source explained that Tayeb made the decision to remove the statement in case doing so could expedite the entry of 'one bag of flour' to the people of Gaza in light of Abdel Atty's warnings that the ongoing negotiations would be 'ruined' by its publication, which came on behalf of the Egyptian and Qatari mediator according to the source. Last week, Doha was still hosting the first phase of a new round of negotiations that aims to reach an 'agreement of principles' that would serve as a basis for indirect ceasefire talks. At the same time, the United States, Qatar and Egypt presented both Palestinian factions and Israelis with an updated proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. But negotiations have stalled over Hamas's demands for a guarantee that Israel will not resume its war, and over the extent to which the Israeli military will withdraw from areas its forces are occupying in the Gaza Strip. Even amid talks toward a negotiated ceasefire, Israel has established newly fortified areas while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared plans to concentrate most of the Palestinians in Gaza to a confined area, which he dubbed a 'humanitarian city,' near the border with Egypt and resume the war once the truce supported by the US and the mediators ends. The deleted statement said that 'thousands of children and innocent people are being killed in cold blood, while the ones who survive are facing death from hunger, thirst, dehydration, the depletion of medicine and the failure of medical centers to save them from certain death.' It also declared Al-Azhar's 'disavowal before God of this suspicious global silence, the shameful international failure to support these defenseless people, and of any call to displace the people of Gaza from their land, and anyone who accepts or responds to these calls.' The statement, covered widely by domestic press before its withdrawal, which led to some coverage being taken down, was not the first from Tayeb concerning the genocidal war on Gaza. Since October 7, he has expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza, rejection of their displacement, criticism of the Israeli occupation and support for the Palestinian resistance on multiple occasions. This rhetoric does not always align with the official government discourse. Abdel Atty had contacted Tayeb on a previous occasion to change the wording of one of these statements, in parallel with a similar request which came at the time from a 'sovereign body,' according to the source. Al-Azhar's deleted statement comes as humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip deteriorate, amid an increase in the number of deaths from hunger and malnutrition as a result of Israel's starvation policies. Israel has been preventing the entry of humanitarian aid for months, blocking the regular aid entry and distribution mechanisms, while Israeli forces open fire on a daily basis at the people who approach the aid distribution centers designated by Israel. Thirty Western countries called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza on Monday, saying that the suffering of Palestinians has 'reached new depths.' The joint statement condemned 'the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food,' noting that 'over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.' The group also condemned Netanyahu's plans to displace the population to a 'humanitarian city' as a violation of international humanitarian law. For its part, Hamas pointed yesterday to 'the extent of blackmail practiced by the Occupation through its committing of massacres in a desperate attempt to extract positions it has been unable to impose at the negotiating table.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
INTERVIEW: Nothing in medicine as cost effective as vaccination - Professor Jaime Fergie - Health - Life & Style
In an interview with Ahram Online, Professor Jaime Fergie, Director of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Driscoll Children's Hospital, USA, expressed his concern about the rebound of several infectious diseases. Speaking to Ahram Online during his visit to Cairo, Professor Fergie pointed out that many people around the world are vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections as they did not receive their routine vaccinations during the pandemic. AhramOnline (AO): What is the purpose of your visit to Egypt, and what are the main themes you'll be discussing with Egyptian paediatricians? Jaime Fergie: I'm here to speak with colleagues about the importance of using the newer pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to protect children from both invasive and mucosal pneumococcal infections. The US introduced the first conjugate PCV in 2000, starting with a vaccine that covered seven strains. We've since progressed to broader vaccines covering 13, and now 20 of the most relevant pneumococcal types. The aim is to expand protection for both children and adults. AO: Do PCV types vary between high-income and low-to middle-income countries? JF: There are slight regional differences, but overall, the top 20 types included in the newer vaccines cover the most important strains globally. AO: How has paediatric infectious disease evolved, especially post-pandemic? JF: During the pandemic, infections like RSV, flu, and pneumococcus dropped due to social distancing. Post-pandemic, we've seen a sharp rebound. A major concern is the number of children who have missed routine vaccinations, leaving them vulnerable. We're still working to catch up. AO: What are the main challenges in diagnosing infectious diseases in children compared to adults? JF: Young children often can't describe symptoms, so we rely on caregivers. Early symptoms—such as fever, fatigue, and poor appetite—can appear similar across various infections. Differentiating between viruses and bacterial infections can be tricky. Additionally, children's conditions can deteriorate rapidly, making early intervention and prevention through vaccination crucial. Vaccination remains the most cost-effective tool in paediatrics. AO: Why is it important to vaccinate children with cancer? JF: Ideally, children should be vaccinated before any cancer diagnosis. But even during early treatment stages, vaccination remains vital. Cancer weakens the immune system, making infections more dangerous. Pneumococcal infections, in particular, can lead to severe outcomes such as meningitis and pneumonia. Therefore, protection is critical. AO: What other high-risk groups face threats from infectious diseases? JF: Children with HIV, sickle cell disease, immune deficiencies, or no spleen are at high risk. Similarly, those with cochlear implants, kidney disease, or asthma. These children are more vulnerable to severe infections. The best approach is to include vaccines like the PCV in national immunisation programmes. I've seen firsthand how vaccination has reduced the incidence of serious diseases such as meningitis and pneumonia in the US. AO: What is the best paediatric immunisation strategy for low-and middle-income countries? JF: The WHO recommends key vaccines for all national programmes, including those for rotavirus, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and measles. Pneumococcal vaccines are also essential. Recently, vaccines for RSV have been introduced, given to pregnant women to protect newborns. While some vaccines, such as meningococcal, are less common globally, they're vital in specific settings, such as during pilgrimage travel. Immunisation should ideally start at two months of age. Financial barriers can be addressed by working with the WHO and organisations like Gavi, which help low-income countries access vaccines. AO: What would you say to people still sceptical about vaccines? JF: It's frustrating, considering how far we've come in preventing disease. Vaccines go through rigorous testing before being approved. While mild side effects like fever or soreness are possible, vaccines prevent illnesses we no longer see thanks to immunisation. The evidence for safety and effectiveness is overwhelming. AO: Finally, what's your message to parents, paediatricians, and policymakers? JF: To parents: Vaccines are safe, effective, and life-saving. I vaccinated my children and want the same protection for all. To paediatricians: Use the best tools available—the latest vaccines offer broader protection. To policymakers: You hold the power to improve children's health. Prioritising vaccination saves lives and is one of the wisest investments a country can make. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily News Egypt
2 days ago
- Daily News Egypt
World Bank proposes Egypt join new global health initiative
Egypt and the World Bank have discussed strengthening cooperation to support the country's economic development, with the bank proposing that Egypt join a new global health initiative, the planning ministry said on Tuesday. The proposal was made during a meeting between Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, and the World Bank's Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti, Stephane Guimbert. According to a ministry statement, Guimbert presented an overview of a new World Bank-led global health initiative that aims to expand basic health coverage to an additional 1.5 billion people in middle- and low-income countries. He raised the idea of Egypt joining as a key participant, citing the country's significant progress in health sector reforms, particularly the implementation of its Universal Health Insurance system, which is one of the largest social protection projects in the region. For her part, Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of the partnership with the World Bank Group as a 'knowledge partner' to the Egyptian government. She highlighted joint efforts to develop a comprehensive implementation plan to achieve economic development, support macroeconomic stability, promote industrial development, mobilise foreign direct investment (FDI), and increase investment in human capital. The minister also outlined the government's national narrative for economic development, a framework which she said aims to create a unified development discourse. Its pillars include preparing a National Strategy for Industrial Development to increase exports, enhancing the value-added of manufacturing, expanding the green economy's contribution to GDP, and promoting investment in human capital. The meeting also covered updates on the World Bank's existing portfolio in Egypt, including the Universal Health Insurance Project, the Sustainable Rural Sanitation Services Programme, the Takaful and Karama social safety net programme, the Upper Egypt Local Development Program, and the Cairo-Alexandria Trade Logistics Development Project.
