Egypt and Kenya have pledged to deepen cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing as part of broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s medical self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imported medicines and vaccines.
The commitment emerged during talks between Egyptian Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and his Kenyan counterpart, Aden Bare Duale, which focused on expanding collaboration in public health, pharmaceutical production, medical tourism and the exchange of medical expertise.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, the two ministers discussed strategies to enhance pharmaceutical security across Africa by boosting local manufacturing capacity and improving access to essential medicines.
Abdel Ghaffar stressed the importance of adopting the “One Health” approach, which links human, animal and environmental health, particularly in addressing challenges associated with climate change and emerging diseases.
The ministers also explored ways to support African vaccine and pharmaceutical production through stronger regional cooperation and by reinforcing the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM), which aims to improve access to safe and high-quality medical products across the continent.
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As part of the discussions, Egypt highlighted its growing pharmaceutical regulatory capacity. Abdel Ghaffar noted that the Egyptian Drug Authority had attained the World Health Organization’s Maturity Level 3 status and was working towards achieving Level 4 certification.
He said the achievement strengthens Egypt’s position as one of Africa’s leading pharmaceutical regulatory hubs and could support broader continental efforts to improve medicine quality and oversight.
The Egyptian minister also proposed a joint business forum bringing together pharmaceutical companies from both countries to explore investment opportunities and partnerships.
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A key focus of the discussions was Egypt’s Vaccine City and Biotechnology Project, a major initiative designed to increase local vaccine production.
According to Abdel Ghaffar, the project aims to supply around 22 percent of Africa’s vaccine requirements and will have the capacity to produce up to 160 million doses annually.
The ministers discussed potential cooperation between Kenya’s BioVax Institute and Egypt’s VACSERA, particularly in technology transfer and expanding vaccine manufacturing capabilities.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, the two sides exchanged views on tackling rare diseases and strengthening healthcare systems through knowledge sharing.
Abdel Ghaffar presented Egypt’s experience in eliminating hepatitis C and outlined the country’s programmes for early disease detection and cancer treatment.
The talks also examined opportunities for collaboration under Egypt’s universal health insurance programme and increased exchanges of healthcare professionals, particularly in oncology, paediatric medicine and bone marrow transplantation.
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Medical tourism was another area of focus. Egypt introduced its “Tour n’ Cure” initiative, designed to attract patients from across Africa seeking specialised medical treatment.
Abdel Ghaffar called for closer cooperation with private healthcare providers to expand treatment options for Kenyan patients travelling to Egypt.
The visit concluded with a tour of Egypt’s Emergency and Crisis Management Centre, while the Egyptian minister invited his Kenyan counterpart to visit the New Administrative Capital Hospital to observe developments in Egypt’s healthcare infrastructure.
The discussions reflect growing efforts by African countries to build stronger regional healthcare partnerships and develop local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity amid increasing global concerns over supply chain resilience and access to essential medicines.
