The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Hassani, Assistant Minister for Public Health Initiatives; Dr. Mohamed Abdel Hakim, Head of the Central Department for Therapeutic Medicine; and Dr. Hend Ashour, Director General of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Department. Sandoz was represented by Dr. Sameh El-Bagoury, Chairman of the Board; Dr. Ahmed Bdeir, Regional Head for the Gulf Region; Dr. Yasmin El-Hanawy, Head of the Specialized Business Unit and Market Access; and Dr. Karim Abdelsalam, Market Access Director.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, official spokesperson for the Ministry, stated that the meeting highlighted Sandoz’s longstanding role in the Egyptian pharmaceutical market, spanning over 70 years. He noted that the company has localized more than 70% of its products within Egypt, including a strategic partnership with local manufacturer Sedico to produce six oncology drugs for the treatment of cancers such as breast, prostate, colon, and cervical cancer.
He added that Abdel Ghaffar stressed the importance of leveraging the company’s expertise and capabilities to enhance the availability of vital medicines, stabilize the pharmaceutical market, and achieve drug security for Egyptian citizens.
The meeting also addressed ways in which the company could support national presidential health initiatives, particularly those focused on the early detection of obesity, anemia, and stunted growth among schoolchildren, in addition to cancer screening initiatives. Dr. Abdel Ghaffar underscored the importance of ongoing collaboration between the public and private sectors in implementing these health programs.
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Health praised the role played by Sandoz, affirming the Ministry’s support for all efforts aimed at advancing the pharmaceutical industry and localizing medical technology in service of public health.