With the deadline for Track & Trace implementation approaching, one of the smart decisions reflected in the EDA draft is the phased rollout, which reduces friction and supports a stable go-live:
=Imported medicines: 1 Feb 2026
=Locally manufactured medicines: 1 Aug 2026
=Existing batches: Can remain in circulation until fully consumed
Having previously worked as a Customer Database Manager in one of Egypt’s major pharma wholesalers, I’ve had a bird’s-eye view of how the Egyptian market behaves, and it’s fundamentally different from Gulf markets.
Key Market Insights
- Wholesalers are the dominant force in Egypt’s distribution model.
- Most products are available through all wholesalers; exclusivity is extremely rare.
- This contrasts with KSA & UAE, where one product typically move through a single agent or two agents and small number of sub-agents.
- Pharmacy chains and hospital chains represent <1% of Egypt’s retail market , no dominant retail players.
In contrast:
KSA: AlNahdi & AlDawaa chain of pharmacies dominate retail.
UAE: Hospital & pharmacy chains like NMC, Mediclinic, Aster, Life,Medicina and BinSina lead the market.
Comments on the Draft Guidelines
- -Events in the draft are comprehensive and tailored to Egypt’s market realities.
- The Partial Dispensing event stands out , a practical reflection of real behavior in pharmacies and hospitals, where dispensing by strip or tablet is common and not found in regional hubs.
- Counter-events for most actions add the flexibility stakeholders need, especially during early adoption.
Additional Noteworthy Points
- Supply-chain movements rely on SSCC (with UID validation at receiving).
- Pharmacy-level verification is mandatory before dispensing.
- Serial number requests (UIDs) from the EDA unified hub provide tighter control over serial distribution , a unique model in the region and one that fits Egypt’s high local manufacturing rate (91% of products are locally produced).