Egypt Launches Groundbreaking “Pharmaceutical Tracking System” to Combat Black Market and Smuggling

A Historic Step in Medicine Regulation

The Egyptian Center for the Right to Medicine has praised the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) for launching a historic project aimed at monitoring the country’s pharmaceutical distribution market. The new Pharmaceutical Tracking System will coincide with Egypt achieving “Level Three” in pharmaceutical manufacturing standards from the World Health Organization after three years of factory inspections.

Eliminating Counterfeit and Smuggled Drugs

According to the Center, the system will help eradicate counterfeit and smuggled medicines, curb monopolies, and combat the black market. It will involve manufacturing companies, distributors, and private pharmacies, enabling accurate tracking of available products and identifying shortages to address supply gaps.

Safeguarding Strategic Medicines

The initiative also aims to prevent the hoarding of strategic medicines and protect them from manipulation or diversion into illegal channels.

Phased Implementation Plan

Dr. Ali El-Ghamrawy, EDA Chairman, announced that the first phase of the system will launch in November, as part of a long-term plan to regulate the pharmaceutical market, fight smuggling, prevent fraud, and ensure transparency in the supply chain.

A formal decree outlining the requirements for manufacturers, warehouses, and pharmacies will be issued in the coming days and published in Egypt’s Official Gazette. The system will be implemented gradually over three to five years until it covers every medicine package in the Egyptian market.

Tracking From Production to Patient

Once fully operational, the system will allow the tracking of each medicine package from production to patient, enhancing the government’s ability to detect violations and ensuring a safe, organized, and transparent pharmaceutical supply chain.