Le président de l’UPA plaide pour un système d’achats unifiés, clé de la souveraineté sanitaire africaine, lors du congrès CPHIA 2025
Durban, South Africa, October 23, 2025 – Dr. Hisham Stateet, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply, and the Management of Medical Technology (UPA), participated in the high-level Opening Plenary Session of the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025).
The conference, held under the theme: “African Health Sovereignty: Building an Integrated Local Manufacturing System through Demand, Innovation, Regulation, and Investment,” brought together leaders, experts, and representatives from regional and international organizations, including the African Union, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Africa CDC.
Leveraging Pooled Procurement for Local Production
Dr. Stait’s participation was centered around the key panel discussion, “Leveraging the Unified Procurement Mechanism to Overcome Access Challenges and Stimulate Local Production.”
During his address, Dr. Stait reviewed Egypt’s pioneering experience in implementing the Unified Procurement system. Established by Presidential Decree, the system was designed to centralize the procurement of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and devices, thereby guaranteeing quality, reducing prices, and ensuring the efficiency of public expenditure.
He emphasized that Pooled Procurement is a critical strategic tool for unifying continental demand for health products. This unification creates stable, predictable markets that directly encourage investment in local manufacturing, promoting equitable distribution and ensuring the availability of essential medicines and vaccines for all African populations.
Digital Platform and Regional Supply Hub
Dr. Stait highlighted the UPA’s success in building a comprehensive, integrated digital platform for the medical supply chain, which provides complete traceability and transparency from the planning stage through to final delivery.
He also detailed the implementation of the National Strategic Warehousing Project, which includes six massive storage facilities covering various geographical regions. These warehouses function not only as national supply points but also as a regional supply hub, strengthening African health security.
EVMA’s Link to the African Market
The Chairman also discussed the Egyptian Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance (EVMA)—the executive arm of the National Strategy for Vaccine Localization. The EVMA, which comprises six local manufacturers in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Egyptian Drug Authority, is directly linked to the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM). This critical link enhances EVMA’s access to African markets and contributes to the continent’s goal of producing 60% of its vaccine needs by 2040.
Dr. Stait concluded by affirming Egypt’s commitment to supporting African efforts to achieve health self-sufficiency, enhance drug security for the continent, and promote knowledge transfer, capacity building, and collective action toward a sustainable and integrated health supply system for all of Africa.