Egypt hosts high-level African meeting on healthcare AI integration

The Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) chief Ali El-Ghamrawy has participated in a high-level African meeting in Cairo focusing on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support regulatory integration and healthcare systems across the continent.

The meeting was held in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and brought together national regulatory agencies from several African countries, alongside international partners working to improve health systems and pharmaceutical markets.

The gathering served as a strategic platform to exchange expertise among African regulators and review global best practices in AI deployment. It aimed to strengthen efforts towards a unified regulatory framework capable of meeting future challenges and adapting to digital transformation in the health sector.

In his opening remarks, El-Ghamrawy said Egypt’s hosting of the event reflects its firm commitment to leading health and regulatory development across Africa. He stressed the importance of responsible AI adoption to enhance regulatory efficiency and ensure the safety and quality of medicines and health services.

The EDA showcased the outcomes of its AI initiative, including the development of a digital workflow system, improvements to the regulatory platform’s visual interface, and enhanced data integration to support faster and more accurate decision-making.

The meeting also featured presentations by international experts on AI applications in regulation, followed by interactive discussions on key challenges and lessons learnt. Specialised sessions addressed regional visions for policy development, AI integration in drug oversight, and strategies for harmonising regulatory frameworks across African nations. Participants shared success stories and underscored the importance of institutional cooperation in building a more resilient and innovative health ecosystem in Africa.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: M. S. Salama