Dr. Mohamed Al-Dababy, Egypt General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline
He lauded the concerted efforts of the state agencies responsible for organising and sponsoring this event, which achieved a resounding success and surpassed the achievements of its first edition, ranking among the most leading conferences ever held in Egypt.
Dr. Al-Dababy emphasised the significance of holding this event under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, who attended the opening session along with the Minister of Health, the head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, and the head of the Unified Procurement Authority.
He added that this serves as a testament to the fact that the healthcare sector in the African continent is a pivotal concern for the Egyptian state, which consistently maintains an effective and influential role in various fields across numerous African countries. Africa is a significant strategic depth for Egypt, which is underscored by the existence of numerous free trade agreements between Egypt and African countries.
Dr. Al-Dababy highlighted that Egypt enjoys a significant competitive advantage in the pharmaceutical industry, which can be leveraged to assist many African countries that face multiple healthcare challenges and yet hold tremendous opportunities. The Egyptian state boasts of extensive expertise and successful experiences in enhancing the standard of healthcare to combat various diseases.
For instance, the Presidential Initiative for Women’s Health is one of the most crucial initiatives that have had a positive impact on transforming the level of interest and awareness of women’s health in Egypt, particularly with respect to early detection of tumours. This is a vital factor in improving the chances of overcoming the disease and reducing mortality rates.
He added that the Africa Health Exhibition and Conference generated widespread interest among international and local pharmaceutical companies, as well as international experts, prominent figures, and pioneers in this sector. He emphasised that Egypt succeeded in organising this event, which aims to enhance the healthcare sector in Africa by providing a platform for exchanging experiences among all professionals and stakeholders interested in healthcare worldwide.
The conference featured active participation in meetings, workshops, and seminars on various important topics related to healthcare, in which GSK participated through a dialogue seminar on vaccines and immunisation of children and adults. The use of vaccines to prevent diseases plays a crucial role in preserving the health of society by limiting the spread of these diseases, in addition to its positive effect on the economy of countries, he pointed out.
Dr. Al-Dababy underscored that protecting individuals from exposure to diseases conserves the efforts and resources of the state and society that would otherwise be expended on recovery and treatment.
Dr. Al-Dababy affirmed that the ExCon has played a crucial role in establishing investment relations and new business opportunities between the various participating companies from Egypt and Africa. The event provided a unique opportunity to showcase the capabilities and advanced manufacturing technologies utilised in the Egyptian pharmaceutical factories of various companies, which is a significant step towards supporting the localisation of the pharmaceutical industry in Africa.
He added that the second edition of the Africa Health ExCon is a pivotal supporter in strengthening ties and consolidating those investment relations that emerged with the African continent during the first edition. The event also highlights the leading role of Egypt in the manufacturing of medicines in Africa.
Dr. Al-Dababy emphasised that the Africa Heath Exhibition and Conference plays a key role in supporting pharmaceutical companies to expand their exports to African countries. The ExCon brought together numerous African countries, providing opportunities for collaboration between exhibiting companies and delegations of African countries.
The second edition of the exhibition and conference further bolstered these relationships and increased interaction between investors. Dr. Al-Dababy stated that Africa is a crucial market for the Egyptian state, as it represents a vast market with numerous opportunities, particularly in the health sector and the drug market, due to the perpetual high demand for medicines and new innovations in this field.
GSK is among the most significant multinational companies operating in the Egyptian drug market. It is the only multinational pharmaceutical company listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange. The company owns two of the largest factories in the Egyptian drug market, one located in Al-Salam City in Cairo and the other in Giza.
Dr. Al-Dababy explained that GSK produces over 180 million packages annually to meet the demands of the drug market. The company actively supports the localisation of the pharmaceutical industry in Egypt. He also stated that the company’s future plans include expanding investments by offering numerous vaccines and innovative medicines that utilise the latest technologies. These products include those that were recently launched globally in various specialties, such as medicines for chest diseases, oncology, and vaccines for preventable diseases like shingles.
He added that he is looking forward to the third edition of the Africa Health Exhibition and Conference next year, which is expected to achieve an outstanding success, akin to the first and second editions. He noted that GSK will work diligently throughout this year to enhance ways of joint cooperation with the concerned authorities to revitalise relations with African countries and support the state’s vision to develop the health sector in Egypt.
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