Rare Diseases Egypt: Progress & Challenges
- Cairo — AstraZeneca is increasing its commitment to addressing rare diseases in Egypt, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment access.
- Sorraya Bekkali, Senior Vice President at AstraZeneca, emphasized the company's dedication to supporting health policies that prioritize rare disease patients.
- Rare diseases, defined as affecting a small number of people, present unique challenges.
AstraZeneca actively strengthens its role in egypt’s rare disease landscape, focusing on enhanced diagnosis and treatment access, partnering with the Ministry of Health. This initiative, including localized advanced molecular genetic testing, marks a significant step forward. With plans to reach 100 countries by 2030, AstraZeneca is committed to supporting health policies prioritizing rare disease patients and is a transformative player in this arena. Following a WHO resolution co-sponsored by Egypt and Spain, the nation is also tackling challenges in diagnosis and treatment, launching a dedicated Rare Disease Unit. Discover what’s next for advanced diagnostic tools and healthcare innovation in Egypt. News Directory 3 has the story.
AstraZeneca Expands Rare Disease Role in Egypt
Updated June 02, 2025
Cairo — AstraZeneca is increasing its commitment to addressing rare diseases in Egypt, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment access. The pharmaceutical company is collaborating with the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population to localize advanced molecular genetic testing, a move expected to significantly enhance diagnostic capabilities.
Dr. Sorraya Bekkali, Senior Vice President at AstraZeneca, emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting health policies that prioritize rare disease patients. Speaking during a visit to Cairo, Bekkali noted that AstraZeneca currently serves patients in 70 countries and plans to expand its reach to 100 countries by 2030. This expansion underscores AstraZeneca’s transformative role in the rare disease space.
Rare diseases, defined as affecting a small number of people, present unique challenges. Globally, an estimated 400 million individuals are impacted. In May,the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution co-sponsored by Egypt and Spain,signaling a global commitment to improving care for these patients.
While 95% of the estimated 10,000 distinct rare diseases lack approved treatments, Egypt is making strides.Increased awareness among physicians and streamlined drug registration processes are improving diagnosis rates and access to innovative treatments. AstraZeneca Egypt launched a dedicated Rare Disease Unit two years ago and has since introduced new solutions for seven different rare diseases.
The letter of intent between AstraZeneca and the Egyptian Ministry of Health aims to overcome limitations of conventional diagnostic methods by harnessing genetic data. This initiative will reduce the need to send samples abroad, strengthen local healthcare provider capabilities, and bolster Egypt’s research and advancement ecosystem.
What’s next
The collaboration between AstraZeneca and Egypt is expected to pave the way for new diagnostic tools and healthcare innovations, supporting Egypt’s Vision 2030 by improving access to high-quality, patient-centered healthcare.