11 Jul SAHPRA signs MOU with Egyptian Drug Authority
Pretoria, 11 July 2023 -The South Africa Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) on 09 July at the Egyptian Embassy in Pretoria.
This MOU between SAHPRA and EDA will allow for crucial collaboration and engagement on mutual reliance for pharmaceuticals, biological products, and medical devices.
The delegations of both authorities headed by EDA Chairman, Prof. Dr Tamer Essam and SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela launched a comprehensive dialogue to exchange visions on a wide range of topics of mutual concern. They also discussed practical approaches to deepen bilateral relations between both countries in the field of pharmaceutical industries.
Dr Semete-Makokotlela explained that “this is the first MOU that we have signed with a national regulatory authority in Africa which shows our commitment and drive to seek collaboration and knowledge sharing with our African counterparts. Capacity-building on the continent is critical because it will ensure that we remain firmly rooted in regulatory processes”.
Prof. Dr. Essam stressed that this MoU will pave the way for setting a unified vision and coordinating effective dialogue between African countries for experience exchanging in the field of pharmaceutical industries, and this comes in accordance with the directives of the Egyptian political leadership in support of African work.
Ambassador of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Ahmed El Fadly, expressed his satisfaction with the signature of the MOU, indicating that it helps remove one main non-tariff barrier to facilitating trade between both countries in the pharmaceutical sector, consequently enhancing people to peoples’ relations. “The onus is now on relevant business communities in both countries to make the best out of this important development,” he added.
This MOU intends to a synergistic relationship where both regulators share knowledge and engage on areas of market authorisation, pharmacovigilance, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and clinical trials.