Large numbers of Egyptians with multiple sclerosis are struggling to find Solu-Medrol injections, a key treatment to manage their condition, with prices when it is available exceeding 4,000 Egyptian pounds per dose.
The shortage, confirmed by patients and pharmacists, has raised concerns about the accessibility of essential medications for people with chronic neurological diseases.
“I searched every pharmacy in Cairo,” said Samah Hamdy, a Cairo-based patient living with multiple sclerosis/MS. “These injections aren’t just treatment—they’re the last line of defense for our remaining muscle function. Without them, I can’t walk or even hold things.”
Solu-Medrol is the brand name for a medication containing methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid that suppresses immune activity and reduces inflammation. It is administered intravenously during relapse episodes to speed recovery. Patients typically require three to five doses per episode.
According to Ali Ouf, head of the pharmacists division at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, 200,000 doses will be made available in the coming period. He also claimed that an alternative treatment of “equal efficacy” is currently available, though many patients remain skeptical.
“The doctor told me alternatives wouldn’t help and might even harm me,” Hamdy said. She recently paid 18,000 pounds ($360) for five doses, in addition to diagnostic costs that brought the total for a single relapse to around 30,000 pounds ($600).
Amira Naguib, another patient, echoed the struggle. “I’ve been searching since Eid in both Cairo and Giza. When I finally found Solu-Medrol, it was 6,000 pounds. The alternative was 2,900—and by the time I came back, both were gone.”
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. It comes in several forms, including the most common type, relapsing-remitting MS, which features flare-ups followed by partial recovery. Other types include secondary progressive, primary progressive, and the rarer progressive-relapsing variant.
Dr. Hatem El-Badawi, secretary-general of the pharmacists division at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, told Al Manassa the shortage might be linked to pricing pressures. “It’s one way to justify raising the price,” he said.
Ouf directed patients to the Egyptian Drug Authority’s hotline (15301) and the state-controlled Isaaf Pharmacies number (16682) for updates on availability. He added that the US-based producer, Pfizer, has shown limited interest in maintaining supply due to what he called “weak pricing.”
Sales data shared with Al Manassa from IQVIA, a healthcare analytics firm, showed that Solu-Medrol’s domestic sales jumped from 3 million units in 2019 to over 19 million by 2023—a rise of more than 500%.
“A few months ago, when the price was just 180 pounds per vial, we were distributing it for free to patients in need,” said Abdel Massih Farouk, a longtime volunteer with support group MS Care. “Now it’s only available on the black market for up to 4,000 pounds, and patients end up paying as much as 20,000 pounds for a single relapse. It’s unthinkable.”
Farouk recalled protests in 2011 and 2012 that led to improved access to MS medications. “We’re now pushing again, holding talks with the Health Ministry and other authorities.”
According to the latest figures, 2.9 million people worldwide live with MS, including 59,671 in Egypt—the highest national count in the Middle East.
