Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), Ali Ghamrawy, has raised concerns over the unregulated sale of veterinary drugs, warning that these medicines are often sold in fertilizer stores and small shops without any oversight.
Speaking at the 13th Conference on Infection Control and Rational Antibiotic Use on Sunday, Ghamrawy said the EDA is working on regulatory reforms to "restrict the sale of veterinary drugs to licensed veterinary pharmacies."
He emphasized that this move is essential to "curb random usage in farms, which can pose serious health and environmental risks."
However, Dr. Mahmoud Hamdy, deputy head of the Egyptian Veterinarians Syndicate, told Al Manassa that the syndicate has yet to receive any official notice from the EDA about plans to establish specialized pharmacies for veterinary medicine.
Hamdy said the veterinary sector is facing a real crisis due to the absence of regulatory oversight, which "has led to the spread of expired and counterfeit drugs, putting animal health at significant risk."
He attributed the problem to a shortage of veterinary inspectors in the relevant authorities, noting the continued failure to hire qualified professionals. "There have been no meaningful recruitment efforts for nearly 18 years," he said, adding that more than 5,800 trained veterinarians remain unemployed.
Hamdy called on the government to offer fair employment opportunities for veterinary graduates, insisting they have a fundamental right to practice their profession.
He also urged the creation of a dedicated veterinary authority to inspect and regulate all venues that sell or distribute animal medicines.
Reserve antibiotics restricted to medical supervision
At the same conference, Ghamrawy announced the enforcement of a new regulation banning the over-the-counter sale of "reserve" category antibiotics. These powerful drugs, he said, are considered a last line of defense against antibiotic-resistant infections and must now be dispensed only under strict medical supervision.
Reserve antibiotics are reserved exclusively for treating confirmed or suspected infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
The decision is part of a broader strategy to regulate drug distribution, Ghamrawy explained, beginning with the inspection of imported raw materials and extending to manufacturing sites, distribution networks, and retail outlets.
He noted that 138 packages of reserve antibiotics had been circulated recently, describing the figure as "an alarming indicator of unregulated use."
Ghamrawy added that new regulations will soon be introduced to cover "watch" category antibiotics—a moderately risky group—which will also be subject to prescription-only status under a national strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.
"These measures are the first step in a broader strategy to protect public health," he said, emphasizing the importance of proactive and coordinated efforts with all relevant stakeholders.
In February, Ghamrawy reported that 421 million units of antibiotics were distributed in Egypt in 2023, compared to 407 million in 2024. He attributed the reduction to the EDA's plan to tighten control over antibiotic dispensing.
