A New Milestone Towards Self-Sufficiency and Strengthening National Health Security

A New Milestone Towards Self-Sufficiency and Strengthening National Health Security

Launch of the Egyptian Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance to enhance health security and localize vaccine production in Egypt, supported by the government and international technology transfer partnerships.

Cairo, Egypt – November 27, 2024 – In a groundbreaking step towards achieving national health security and positioning Egypt as a regional hub for biopharmaceutical industries, the Egyptian Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance has been launched as one of the key pillars in implementing the national strategy for vaccine localization.

This initiative follows Prime Ministerial Decree No. 719 of 2024 and aims to localize the production of essential vaccines in Egypt, ensuring national health security while enabling the country to contribute to regional and international markets, particularly in Africa.

The alliance includes leading local companies such as Vaccine and Biotechnology City (VBC), Vacsera, GenVax, Biogeneric Pharma, Egyptian Pharmaceutical City, and Eva Pharma, in addition to more than nine international partners with extensive expertise in vaccine technology transfer and manufacturing. The initiative is backed by direct governmental supervision through the Ministry of Health and Population, the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement (UPA), the Medical Technology Administration, and the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA).

Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, emphasized that vaccine localization will build a strong healthcare infrastructure in Egypt and serve future generations. He highlighted the leadership’s vision to strengthen Egypt’s healthcare sector by establishing a high-quality local vaccine industry that maximizes self-sufficiency in essential vaccines while positioning Egypt as a regional vaccine exporter.

The announcement was made during the official launch of the National Strategy for Vaccine Manufacturing Localization, where a charter was signed by alliance members. The ceremony was attended by key figures including Dr. Awad Tag El-Din, Presidential Advisor for Health and Prevention; Dr. Amr Kandil, Deputy Minister of Health; Major General Magdy Anwar, Head of the National Service Projects Organization; Major General Dr. Bahaa El-Din Zidan, Chairman of UPA; Dr. Ali El-Ghamrawi, Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority; Dr. Mohamed Lotfy, President of the Egyptian Health Council; Dr. Naeema Abid, WHO Representative in Egypt; as well as senior leaders from the Ministry of Health, representatives from Egyptian pharmaceutical companies, and international organizations, in alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030.

Major General Dr. Bahaa El-Din Zidan, Chairman of UPA, announced the launch of an Economic Partnership Contracts Program, which will act as the legislative tool to support the national vaccine localization strategy. The program aims to drive sustainable economic development by supporting biopharmaceutical industries and facilitating technology transfer, thereby enhancing Egypt’s capacity to achieve vaccine self-sufficiency and strengthen its global competitiveness.

Egypt has also been selected as one of the first African countries to receive mRNA vaccine production technology from the World Health Organization, reflecting the country’s readiness to advance biopharmaceutical industries. The national strategy targets not only meeting local demand (estimated at 75 million doses annually) but also boosting exports by 50% by 2040 to help meet Africa’s growing need of nearly 1.8 billion doses annually.

Dr. Ali El-Ghamrawi, Chairman of the EDA, reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for vaccine industry development, reducing reliance on imports, and strengthening competitiveness. He highlighted Egypt’s achievement of WHO Maturity Level 3 accreditation in vaccines regulation and emphasized the wide range of incentives provided to alliance members to position Egypt as a global leader in vaccine manufacturing. He also stressed that Egypt’s skilled workforce is qualified to serve as a regional hub for capacity building and knowledge transfer across Africa.

Dr. Amr Kandil, Deputy Minister of Health, noted that vaccine localization requires significant investment in technology transfer and quality assurance aligned with international standards. He underlined the government’s dedication to overcoming all challenges to secure a healthier future for Egyptians. He pointed out that large-scale production is essential for economic feasibility, requiring long-term contracts and sustained investments, as well as complex partnerships with global industry leaders to ensure successful knowledge transfer and workforce training.

According to alliance studies, Egypt will have 16 production lines by 2027 with a total capacity of 700 million vaccine doses annually. So far, 21 technology transfer agreements have been signed, covering 18 essential vaccines, ensuring national immunization needs are met and self-sufficiency achieved.

Prof. Hesham Badr, Deputy Chairman of UPA, added that the alliance aims to transform Egypt’s vaccine industry by enhancing international partnerships and strengthening national capabilities. He revealed that 12 technology transfer agreements have already been signed, aligning with the national strategy to achieve full self-sufficiency by 2040. “We are building sustainable national capacities in vaccine manufacturing to strengthen health security and economic development. Our vision is to make Egypt a global leader in this vital industry through international partnerships and advanced technology transfer.”

The Egyptian Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance represents an ambitious vision for promoting public health not only in Egypt but also across the African continent. Together, the alliance paves the way for a sustainable health future, ensuring every citizen has access to safe and effective vaccines.