Egypt has launched the manufacturing plant of Spectrum Diagnostic Industries. This is the first integrated manufacturing in rapid diagnostic tests – rapid tests in Egypt and the Arab world in an effort aimed at strengthening domestic medical manufacturing, minimising imports and boosting exports.
This Egypt’s first integrated manufacturing in rapid diagnostic tests of the company was inaugurated in the Ismailia Public Free Zone by Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Mohamed Farid, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Nabil Hasaballah, Ismailia Governor, Ali El Ghamrawy, Chairperson of the Egyptian Drug Authority and various other government officials.
According to Hashem, setting up the factory is a planned move in terms of localizing the production of rapid diagnostic tests which are made use of to detect infectious diseases as well as epidemics, carry out drug tests and pinpoint cancer biomarkers.
The project comes as part of the efforts made by Egypt so as to improve healthcare safety while making the country a regional center in terms of medical and diagnostic manufacturing, taking advantage of the strategic location of Egypt, its industrial infrastructure and also wide network of trade agreements, Hashem added.
It is worth noting that the local production would lower the dependence of the country on imported diagnostic tests, saving about $30m per year in imports and opening up opportunities to boost exports when it comes to higher-value medical products, said the minister.
Apparently, the project is a manifestation of the increasing trust in the ability of Egyptian manufacturers to come up with advanced medical products which conform to global quality standards, stated Hashem.
Hashem also emphasized the necessity of coordination between ministries of Industry, Health and Population, as well as Investment and Foreign Trade, along with the Egyptian Drug Authority and the private sector to promote the pharmaceutical and medical sectors in Egypt.
The minister pointed out that industrial development continues to be one of the main pillars of the economic growth strategy, with pharmaceuticals being among the seven top industries in the revised industrial strategy of the country.
Notably, the strategy targets improving the quality of products, boosting local content, fostering technological advancement, bringing in industrial investments centred around technology transfer and integrating Egyptian industries into the global value chains, he said.
Hashem added that the Ministry of Industry is also making efforts to improve the investment environment by simplifying processes, improving industrial services, providing serviced industrial land and backing the expansion of production capacity along with technological skills.
After the inauguration ceremony, the ministers stopped by the new rapid diagnostic test production line and observed the advanced manufacturing technologies which have been used in the facility.