Egypt produces first locally-made insulin
Egypt has produced its first batch of locally-made insulin as part of efforts to reduce the country's reliance on imports.
The insulin is made by two local manufacturers in partnership with international companies.
At a ceremony on December 17, the Egyptian Drug Authority said this step would save $30 million on import costs.
With this, the country is expected to sell 1.47 million doses, generating sales worth LE 1.13 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2024.
Negotiations to start production took four years. Officials say the goal is not just to meet local demand but to export to other African countries.
Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar highlighted that Egypt has 170 pharmaceutical factories producing 90 percent of the medicines consumed locally. He added that spending on diabetes treatment alone is a major part of the annual LE 3 billion spent on non-chronic disease medications.
Egypt needs 17 million doses of insulin every year, as 15.5 percent of its population has diabetes, including 55,000 children.
