التكنولوجيا وأخبارها بوابة مصر لأخبار تكنولوجيا المعلومات والإتصالات
Technologist: Research and development is a key factor in the localization of the medical device industry in Egypt
El Wakeel: The lack of state protection for Egyptian products in the field of medical devices harms the local industry
An expert calls for the development of a unified strategy by the state in support of the medical device industry during the economic conference
Engineer Mostafa El Wakeel, CEO of Biobusiness and an expert in the medical device industry and development, said that the medical device industry is a type of deep technology, but rather one of the most important types of technology that must be localized in the Egyptian market.
During a workshop at the Academy of Scientific Research entitled: “The Importance of Localizing Medical and Laboratory Devices Technology, Deepening Local Manufacturing and the Role of Scientific Research,” the agent pointed out the rapid growth of the medical device industry around the world, as the size of this industry in the world currently has reached 450 billion dollars and will reach In 2030 to 750 billion dollars.
El Wakeel added that Egypt’s investment in research and development, which is a crucial element for the expansion and development of the medical device industry, is still very low despite its importance in general for all commodities as it contributes to gradually reducing or even eliminating the balance of payments (BOP) deficit, and making it available Various goods are more affordable to consumers if we invest more in research and development as China has done, which has succeeded in producing existing goods with lower costs and simpler features.
El Wakeel stressed that research and development faces the problem of high spending, as it requires large budgets that most companies in Egypt see to provide, which has led to a significant shortcoming in research and development processes in the field of industry in general, and in the heart of which are medical devices, despite the great role played by the Research Academy. Scientific research in this field, however, requires great support from the government and the allocation of budgets in cooperation with the private sector for research and development in the medical device industry.
El Wakeel continued: “The technology of manufacturing medical devices is an advanced technology, as any medical device must have 4 main components: the first of them is technology, where there must be technology that addresses a specific medical problem, and then everything that is tangible in the device, starting with the mechanical components and Even the user manual, then the software used in the device and operating systems, and finally approvals to use the device as quality certificates or CE or FDA certificates.
El Wakeel explained, that the origin of the medical device industry is an assembly industry and not a manufacturing industry, so the proportion of the local component is an unimportant factor in this industry, but the most important thing is the presence of those who provide these components, who come in the forefront of technology providers such as research centers and patent work centers, Then manufacturers of mechanical and electronic components, which are already present in Egypt, but need significant development and improvement
He pointed out that the third and most important component in the medical device industry is software, which is the most developed component in Egypt, but the medical device industry lacks knowledge of how to exploit this development.
The fourth component is the approvals and certificates of quality or circulation, which are in Egypt through the Egyptian Medicines Authority.
El Wakeel explained that the equivalent of $49 billion was spent on research and development operations for medical devices globally during the past year, noting that 38% of the investments in research and development were pumped by the big five companies and 33% of the investments were pumped by the ten companies. following her.
El Wakeel revealed that America owns 55% of these investments in the world, and 14% of the entire continent of Europe, and the African continent and the Arab region in general does not have any percentage in these investments, stressing that it is a sad thing despite the existence of the capabilities that qualify us to invest in this field.
El Wakeel stated that there are several challenges facing the medical device industry in Egypt, including bureaucracy, the Khawaja complex and the lack of a unified strategy on the part of the state in support of the medical device industry, which must be put on the table of the economic conference called for by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on October 23, He stressed that there must be a clear strategy for the manufacture of medical devices locally, that there should be support from the government for local companies and push them to invest in this field, given that the medical device industry is a strategic industry and one of the elements of Egyptian national security.
El Wakeel stressed that there is no state protection for serious Egyptian products in the field of medical devices from fierce global competition if they are in the Egyptian market, which could burn prices in the market for a period of time leading to damage to the local factory and the failure of the investment experience, which is why there must be decisions Clear from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to combat dumping in the field of medical devices and to favor the Egyptian product and protect it from unfair competition from imported foreign products.
