UPA Hosts Deputy PM and Minister of Health to Review National Strategic Warehousing Project
New Administrative Capital, 20-08-2025 – In line with the directives of His Excellency the President to establish a fully integrated national system of strategic warehouses for medical products and devices, Dr. Hisham Stait, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply, and the Management of Medical Technology (UPA), hosted Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population.
The visit took place at the site of the Strategic Warehouse in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) to monitor the executive status of the project and assess the rates of achievement on the ground.
National Scope and Distribution
During the site visit, Dr. Stait reviewed the project’s details, describing it as a qualitative leap in strategic medical inventory management. The system involves the establishment of six strategically distributed warehouses across the Republic, located in: Cairo, Mansoura, Ismailia, El Alamein, Minya, and Qena. This geographical distribution ensures equitable access and rapid response capabilities during crises and emergencies.
Advanced Technology and Quality Standards
The project is managed according to the latest global standards using a comprehensive Warehouse Management System (WMS). It relies on an integrated logistical framework encompassing storage, cooling, packaging, and planning/forecasting using SAP Demand Planning systems. Crucially, the project implements an advanced drug traceability system to guarantee transparency and secure supply chains, adhering to the highest international quality and safety standards, including:
- ISO 9001
- Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
- Good Storage Practice (GSP)
- ISO 22000
Institutional Structure and Investment
The meeting reviewed the institutional structure of the Strategic Warehousing Company, which includes three core entities:
- The Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement (UPA), represented by the Egyptian Medical Investments Company.
- The Ministry of Defense, represented by the Armed Forces Land Projects Organization.
- The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, represented by the Arab Logistics Investments Company.
The project is being executed by the Engineering Consulting Office of the Military Technical College and Orascom-Witz as the primary contractor. The estimated cost for the first phase is approximately $162.75 million, covering a total area of 457,330 square meters, with 160,000 square meters allocated to the main warehouse in the NAC.
Minister’s Commendation and Integration Directive
Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar commended the UPA’s efforts in executing the project according to the specified timelines. He emphasized that the project represents a strategic step toward building a leading regional hub for medical storage, which will enhance the efficiency of the pharmaceutical supply system and ensure the sustainable availability of medicines in alignment with Egypt Vision 2030.
The Minister also directed the necessity of integrating existing Ministry of Health and Population warehouses into the new system, following a review to ensure their conformity with the approved technical standards. This move aims to achieve institutional integration, optimize resource utilization, and elevate the standard of healthcare services provided to citizens.
The meeting was attended by leaders from the partner entities and representatives from various project-related stakeholders.
#UPA #TowardsHealthEquity
