Nairobi: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty Saturday participated in the presidential roundtable on local manufacturing of health commodities in Africa as a pillar of health security and sovereignty. The event brought together a number of heads of state and government officials, as well as ministers, and was chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto.

According to State Information Service Egypt, discussions focused on strengthening Africa's manufacturing capacities in the health sector and advancing health security and sovereignty across the continent. In his remarks, Abdelatty expressed appreciation for Kenya's leadership, under President Ruto, for promoting efforts to increase local production of pharmaceutical and medical products in Africa.

He stressed that the continent's health security depends on its ability to produce medicines and vaccines locally and reduce excessive reliance on external sources. Abdelatty noted that recent global health crises have demonstrated that local manufacturing is no longer merely a developmental option, but a strategic necessity.

He also reviewed Egypt's pioneering national experience in implementing its Comprehensive Health Insurance System, emphasizing how structured and sustainable demand for health services and products is crucial to the success of local manufacturing strategies. Minister Abdelatty asserted Egypt's full support for African initiatives aimed at enhancing local manufacturing of health products as a fundamental pillar of continental health security and sovereignty, contributing to the development of a more resilient African health system capable of addressing future challenges.