Wednesday, 27 May 2026
New book chronicles pharma evolution
The Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) has released a new book, “Egypt and Medicine: A Journey Through Time,” detailing the history of Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry from ancient Pharaonic times to the present.
EDA Chairman Ali El-Ghamrawy highlighted that ancient Egyptian medical papyri, over 3,550 years old, show Egypt’s early leadership in medical science through their use of observation, herbal remedies, surgery, and rational treatment methods.
The most prominent is the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BC), the longest and most comprehensive surviving medical text, containing around 877 prescriptions and remedies, often cited as over 850 therapeutic recipes, many derived from plants, animals, minerals, and desert resources. It covers internal medicine, gynecology, ophthalmology, dermatology, dentistry, intestinal parasites, burns, tumors, and even mental disorders.
Another key text is the Edwin Smith Papyrus (c. 1600 BC, the world’s oldest known surgical treatise. It describes 48 trauma cases with a highly rational structure: examination, diagnosis, prognosis (e.g., “treatable” or “untreatable”), and treatment, including stitching wounds and setting bones. It provides the first descriptions of the brain and links between brain injuries and paralysis, with minimal magical elements.
These papyri reflect a scientific approach based on experimentation and accumulated knowledge in medicine production, influencing later Greek, Roman, and global traditions.
El-Ghamrawy explained that the true institutional transformation of Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry began under Muhammad Ali Pasha, who established the first modern scientific regulations for the sector. This laid the foundations for the contemporary Egyptian pharmaceutical system. He emphasised that the book highlights a core concept: medicine is not merely a commercial product but a pillar of national security and an inherent right for every citizen.
Reviewing recent state achievements, the EDA Chairman noted that the “New Republic” has witnessed major health transformations, including the eradication of Hepatitis C, effective management of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the creation of the EDA as an independent regulatory body responsible for ensuring the quality, safety, and availability of pharmaceutical products.
El-Ghamrawy revealed that the EDA has achieved Maturity Level 3 according to the World Health Organisation’s evaluation, placing Egypt among only 16 countries worldwide with this advanced classification in pharmaceutical regulation. Efforts continue to reach Maturity Level 4 in the coming phase.