Egypt’s Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar announced the launch of Eva Pharma’s new Oncology and Hematology Division, a key step toward localizing advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and bolstering national health security. The announcement came at an event in Cairo, highlighting the handling of 360,000 annual cancer cases at a cost of nearly EGP 13 billion.
In a move to enhance self-sufficiency in strategic medications, Egypt launched Eva Pharma’s new Oncology and Hematology Division on Tuesday. Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, speaking at the Cairo event, noted that the country’s cancer treatment centers handle an average of 360,000 cases annually, including 80,000 under the Universal Health Insurance System, at a cost of nearly EGP 13 billion per year.
The division aims to produce 22 million units annually of cancer and immunosuppressive drugs meeting EU-GMP standards. Seven products are already available in the Egyptian market, with 11 more treatments in the pipeline, and plans to expand production for export to international markets.
Abdel Ghaffar highlighted that Egypt now has 2,700 pharmaceutical production lines, including 179 medicine factories (970 lines), 187 medical supply manufacturers, and four biological product plants. Between 2017 and 2022, the country recorded 366,823 cancer cases and 95,275 related deaths. This aligns with Vision 2030 for a stronger healthcare system.
He praised Eva Pharma’s contributions to national initiatives, such as local manufacturing of Hepatitis C drugs, COVID-19 antivirals, insulin, and immunological medicines. Investment-friendly policies, streamlined drug registration, and partnerships with local and international firms are positioning Egypt as a regional pharmaceutical hub in the Middle East and Africa. Ongoing efforts include expanding cancer centers, updating protocols, and training specialized medical teams.