Cuba and Egypt strengthen cooperation relations in the field of health for the welfare of their peoples. (Photo:ACN)

By Roberto Morejón

Cooperation between Cuba and Egypt in the field of health opens new horizons to relations in general terms.

In an evidence of what they undertake for the welfare of their peoples, representatives of both governments signed several agreements as a result of the visit to the Caribbean archipelago of the Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar.

The commitments refer to the areas of production and regulation of drugs covered by the sanitary registry between the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices and the Egyptian medical-pharmaceutical company Acdima.

The latter brings together leading pharmaceutical companies whose aim is to manufacture and market quality products.

During the first visit of an Egyptian Health Minister to the largest of the Antilles, a letter of intent was also signed between FarmaCuba and Egyptian Medical Union Pharmaceutical and a memorandum of understanding between the local BioCubaFarma and Acdima.

The Caribbean nation will be able to have access to products that are currently in great demand in the domestic market.

In this scenario, the U.S. blockade and the limitation of the Cuban State to international currencies have a significant impact.

Among the contracts signed, the acquisition by Cuba of Egyptian insulin for the treatment of diabetes stands out.

According to the visiting head of state, this is the first example of the introduction of an Egyptian-Arab-African entity in the chain of Cuban medicines.

Beyond what was stipulated, the statements made by officials of both parties about the interest in the growth of ties in the health and science fields were highlighted.

It was also learned of the interest of the Egyptian President, Abdelfatáh al Sisi, to politically support the development of economic relations between the two nations.

The two parties will draw important lessons from the talks in Havana, where they shared experiences on the strengthening of their respective health systems, academic training, primary health care and technology transfer.

The agreements sealed in this capital have a precedent in the signing in 2022 of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of health and medical sciences.  

With a millenary culture, Egypt's top representative in Cuba, Ambassador Maher El-Adawy, is carrying out here a remarkable work for the knowledge of this country and the exploration of cooperation areas.

The diplomatic representative said in July 2023: "The Cuba-Egypt relationship is special".