CAIRO - 17 March 2026: Dr. Ali El-Ghamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, held a meeting Tuesday to discuss supporting the health sector and developing the national pharmaceutical system.
Several initiatives and policies aiming at enhancing the access of Egyptian patients to medications were reviewed, and mechanisms for joint action to facilitate access to innovative treatments, particularly in several priority therapeutic areas, were discussed.
Strengthening the Clinical Trials system in Egypt
Dr. El-Ghamrawy emphasized that the Authority places great importance on supporting research activities and strengthening the clinical trials system in Egypt.
This contributes to consolidating Egypt's position as a regional hub for pharmaceutical research and development. He also noted the Authority's commitment to enhancing cooperation with leading international companies to exchange expertise and support pharmaceutical innovation, which will positively impact the health of Egyptian patients.
As the second-biggest destination country for clinical trials in Africa, Egypt has witnessed a steady increase in the number of trials it hosts, which has pushed Parliament to discuss the medical trials law, putting strict controls on experiments that are conducted in hospitals.
In February 2016, there were 57 active clinical drug trials, and over half of these trials were to assess cancer treatments.
In 2020, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ratified the new law of medical trials. The law was then published in the official gazette Al-Waqa'i' al-Misriyya to come into force.
The new law is governing the organization of medical research, the provision of which aims to lay the foundations and standards required for conducting medical research while protecting those who are subject to the trials.
Such research varies between preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and non-remedial. Clinical trials are the tests conducted on human participants, or groups of humans, in order to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of newly developed medications or medical devices.
This law has raised many concerns over the ethical nature and legality of the process. As per the law, the Supreme Council for the Review of Clinical Medical Research Ethics in Egypt was established.
The council is the highest authority regulating clinical trials, focusing on ethical compliance and participant safety. It sets, reviews, and approves research protocols in coordination with the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), to ensure adherence to international standards and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
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