The session also discussed the conference's Coordinating Committee's role in discussing intellectual property rights to encourage innovators in research and development within the Egyptian market.

Despite the issuance of several laws related to medicine, there are still legislative shortcomings in certain aspects, including fraud and deception concerning expired and recycled drugs, Deputy Chair of the Health Committee in the House of Representatives Dr. Mohamed El-Wahsh said.

He noted that the law was first issued in 1948, with amendments in 1955 and 1989. The most recent amendment was in 1994 with Law No. 281, and nothing has been added since.

For over 30 years, no one has addressed this issue, which greatly impacts the pharmaceutical industry, both in exports and the domestic market, he added.

El-Wahsh pointed out that Law No. 20 for 2024 on clinical trials had its executive regulations issued 18 months after the law was passed, which he described as a significant delay.

Egypt needs a strong push in research and development, as there is a lack of clinical research that can only be covered through external partnerships with laboratories and companies with advanced technology, he stated.

El-Wahsh also recalled how Egypt pioneered in the 1930s when pharmacist Mohamed Hegazy established the first Egyptian pharmaceutical company in 1930.

Egypt's Medicine City now has 17 factories; under the leadership of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the foundations were laid for the Egyptian Medicine City, which produces 150 million drug packages annually.

This initiative aims to localize the production of medical raw materials, which currently costs Egypt $2 billion in imports.

Moreover, he indicated that investment in Egypt’s pharmaceutical sector has reached EGP 300 billion, with 172 pharmaceutical factories, 116 medical supplies factories, over 70 cosmetics factories, and four raw material factories.

According to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's statements, 91 percent of the pharmaceutical products in the Egyptian market are locally produced.

However, export figures remain modest, with only EGP 1 billion in exports in 2023.

In comparison, some countries that entered this field much later than Egypt now export EGP 2.5 billion. Given the scale of investment, there is a need to boost exports.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Health Committee in the Senate Dr. Ali Mahran emphasized that the committee prioritizes the development of the pharmaceutical sector.

The Senate, in its previous legislative term, completed a study on the pharmaceutical industry over 22 sessions, focusing on strategies to increase Egyptian drug exports.

Many representatives from the Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries and the Export Council for Pharmaceuticals have participated in this study.

Mahran added that the Senate is reviewing the legislative impact of laws.

He expressed readiness to listen to feedback on the Clinical Trials Law, considering the positives and negatives of its implementation.

He also promised to address any shortcomings by studying the proposals and amendments suggested by the Al-Ahram Drug Conference participants.

During this session, moderated by former minister of health Dr. Adel Adawy, Mehran said the Senate’s study included linking scientific research to industry and reviewing laws such as the Clinical Trials Law and the Intellectual Property Law.

He explained that the Clinical Trials Law was drafted with great professionalism, regulating the relationship between research centres, researchers, and study participants.

He also noted that the formation of the Supreme Council for Clinical Research is a significant step that, although delayed, came at the right time. The law also addresses the roles, commitments, and rights of sponsors, ensuring a developed research environment in Egypt.

Mahran stressed the importance of identifying the obstacles faced by doctors in the law's application to pinpoint weaknesses.

He pointed out the possibility of conducting a legislative impact assessment of the law in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, aiming to propose amendments that would benefit the pharmaceutical sector and encourage scientific research and its integration with the pharmaceutical industry.

Developing the pharmaceutical system would not be possible without scientific research, Dr. Sherif Wadie, chair of the Supreme Council for Scientific Research, affirmed.

He pointed out that Egypt has 86,000 researchers, including globally renowned ones; yet there are no registered research papers.

Therefore, it is crucial to establish a database for all clinical research in Egypt, he said.

Wadie also announced that a contract has been signed with the Ministry of Planning to work on this database, and there is extensive cooperation with the Drug Authority to develop the system based primarily on scientific research.

Furthermore, he promised to make every effort to improve Egypt’s research standing.

He urged researchers to register their studies, assuring them that they would see tangible changes as the system begins a new chapter with them because there can be no development without scientific research.

Vice President of Al-Ahram Canadian University Dr. Ayman Nour El-Din emphasized that Egypt is a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry, with some of the oldest institutions in the region operating in this field since around 1928. This historical fact should be considered when assessing the current state of the sector.

He pointed out that, given the government's and political leadership's focus on the pharmaceutical industry and the presence of leading minds in scientific research, it is essential to connect the industry with scientific research.

To do this, two primary needs must be addressed: funding and technology, he explained.

The research associated with pharmaceutical production is very costly, and the state alone cannot bear this financial burden. Additionally, there is a need for mechanisms to access the latest pharmaceutical production technologies, which Egypt currently lacks. Collaborating with more advanced countries, such as India, could be beneficial, he continued.

Nour El-Din also suggested that all components of the pharmaceutical ecosystem should be linked through an investment model where companies provide funding, research centres make discoveries, factories produce the medications, and hospitals benefit from them. This would result in exports to other countries, forming a successful cycle at all levels.

He added that the private sector and pharmaceutical companies, especially international ones with large research budgets, should be encouraged to contribute to funding scientific research in Egypt's pharmaceutical industry.

Moreover, we should establish several centres for actual and experimental treatment of drugs, in collaboration with local and global manufacturers.

Nour El-Din also stressed that attracting more foreign investment into the sector and encouraging their support for pharmaceutical research would require fostering trust among investors in the entire system.

This necessitates a complete overhaul of the sector to eliminate bureaucracy, improve the quality of research, and ensure better documentation and access to scientific studies.

CEO of Holding Company for Pharmaceuticals Dr. Ashraf El-Khouly highlighted the importance of scientific research, noting that global companies allocate around 15-25 percent of their budgets to research.

During the session, El-Khouly called for the development of research tools in Egypt and urged companies to allocate a large budget from their sales to fund scientific research.

He also emphasized the need for intellectual property protection and laws to safeguard scientific research.

Political will is a strong driver of success in the medical system, Dr. Hisham El-Ghazaly, head of the Research Center at Ain Shams University and head of the Women's Health Initiative in presidential initiatives, noted during the session. 

He credited the success of initiatives like the 100 Million Health and the Women's Health Initiative, which have received local and international acclaim, to such political support.

Speaking under the theme "Facing Challenges and Promoting Innovation," El-Ghazaly stressed that Egypt should aim to become a prominent destination for scientific research. This would have a positive impact on the pharmaceutical industry and its outcomes.

As a result of the Women's Health Initiative, early screening was conducted for 22 million women, and biopsies were performed on about 40 million women, revealing cancerous diseases in 30,000 cases, he revealed.

El-Ghazaly concluded that these significant numbers represent valuable data for those interested in scientific research and related areas such as imaging and genetic analysis.

He also mentioned that the Ain Shams Medical Research Centre is a model that should be replicated in other Egyptian universities.

Finally, he expressed hope for a presidential initiative supporting scientific research, which would further strengthen and support this vital system.