New capital: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has emphasized the necessity of ongoing monitoring of medicine and medical supplies across hospitals nationwide, including those under the Ministry of Health and Population and university hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. This directive aims to ensure that supply levels consistently meet patients' needs. Madbouly articulated these requirements during a meeting at the government headquarters in the New Capital, discussing the current state of medical supply availability.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting saw the attendance of several key figures, including Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture Abdel Aziz Konsowa, Egyptian Drug Authority Chairman Ali el Ghamrawy, and Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply and the Management of Medical Technology Chairman Hisham Stait. The importance of maintaining strategic reserves was stressed, particularly in light of recent supply-chain disruptions due to regional political developments.
Madbouly noted that approximately EGP 90 billion has been allocated in this fiscal year's budget to secure a stable supply of medicines and medical supplies. He highlighted the role of the Unified Procurement Authority's integrated system in ensuring the sustained availability of these essentials through efficient storage, distribution, and supply management. Abdel Ghaffar reported that current stocks are at sufficient levels, with no chronic shortages, though temporary shortages may occur and are promptly addressed with the Unified Procurement Authority's support.
Stait emphasized optimizing asset use, improving spending efficiency, and enhancing supply chain resilience. He detailed that the medical supply system now monitors procedures across 11,000 medical facilities, involving 38,000 healthcare workers and 2,000 suppliers. The system standardizes and classifies warehouse operations, improving inventory management through electronic methods and reducing infrastructure costs while ensuring compliance with auditing standards.
During the meeting, Konsowa discussed the status of medical supplies at university hospitals, noting that strategic stocks have recently increased, thus improving pharmaceutical availability. He also highlighted challenges facing state-funded and insured patients, stressing the need for solutions to ensure access to necessary treatments.
Madbouly instructed the ministers to prioritize the system's activation and continuous monitoring, aiming to enhance governance and ensure the efficient management of medical supplies.