{"id":16980,"date":"2025-02-22T13:17:11","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T11:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/?p=16980"},"modified":"2026-10-24T15:02:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T13:02:00","slug":"antibiotic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/antibiotic\/","title":{"rendered":"A Fatal Injection: How Antibiotic Misuse Puts Egyptians at Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coinciding with the winter season every year, incidents of death caused by antibiotic drugs against colds recur, specifically those antibiotics taken by injection, to which people usually resort without a medical examination, under the supervision of the pharmacist only. Recent years, particularly since 2022, have witnessed a steady increase in the number of deaths among Egyptians of all age groups as a result of these drugs, which raises widespread concern, especially with the circulation of some information indicating the use of counterfeit or low-quality materials in the manufacture of those drugs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Despite their wide spread and their adoption to treat many illnesses, foremost among them colds and influenza, their risks are considered great. Scientific studies<\/a> have shown that 39 million people around the world may die from diseases resistant to antibiotics over the next 25 years. In Egypt, the Ministry of Health and the Drug Authority have repeatedly warned<\/a> against the random use of antibiotics, especially with the noticeable increase in the number of deaths. Nevertheless, these drugs still enjoy great popularity among Egyptians, especially in light of the medicine crisis and the multiplied rise in its prices in recent years, in addition to its unavailability in hospitals, which forces citizens to resort to cheap and available alternatives.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Antibiotic drugs top the health spending bill of Egyptians, as <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> indicate that Egyptians spent more than EGP 2.5 billion on only three types of antibiotics during the period from September 2022 to September 2023, according to data issued by IQVIA, which specialises in monitoring sales in Egypt’s pharmaceutical market. This value constitutes about 2% of total medicine sales in the country, which exceeded EGP 142 billion during the same period.<\/span><\/p>\n

The data showed that Augmentin, produced by the British company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), topped the list of the most consumed antibiotics in Egypt, with sales reaching EGP 1.1 billion within one year. In second place came Hibiotic, produced by Amoun Pharma, which is owned by the Emirati holding company (ADQ), with sales amounting to EGP 888.9 million. Third place went to the antibiotic Cefotax, produced by EIPICO Pharmaceuticals, affiliated with Acdima Pharmaceuticals, which is owned by the Egyptian Ministry of Health, with sales worth EGP 561.5 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this context, the head of the Scientific Committee for Combating Coronavirus in Egypt, Dr Hossam Hosny, revealed that Egyptians consumed about 216 million boxes of antibiotics in only nine months. Hosny stressed, in televised <\/span>statements<\/span><\/a>, the necessity of dispensing antibiotics under specialised medical supervision and after carrying out the necessary tests, warning that random use increases the risk of bacterial resistance to these drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>Medicine Haemorrhage: The Dollar Shortage Threatens the Health of Egyptians<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

The crisis returns <\/b><\/p>\n

Last January saw the death of a <\/span>woman<\/span><\/a> in her thirties in El-Bagour district in Menoufia Governorate, leaving behind three children, as a result of a severe allergic reaction after receiving an antibiotic injection to treat a cold inside a pharmacy. Months earlier, specifically last August, a <\/span>child<\/span><\/a> (5 years old) died after receiving an intravenous dose of an antibiotic inside a private hospital, which led to his death on the spot. With the recurrence of death incidents, controversy and anxiety return to the Egyptian street, especially in light of the unavailability of alternatives and the widespread outbreak of colds during this winter. <\/span><\/p>\n

Attention to the danger of antibiotics in Egypt began in 2022, as that was the peak of deaths resulting from taking the drugs against the viruses that cause colds. Statements made at the time by television presenter Lamees El-Hadidi <\/span>indicated<\/span><\/a> that the number of deaths in Egypt due to antibiotics had reached 70,000 deaths annually, and the statements came at the time in comment on the large increase in the number of deaths. The <\/span>Ministry<\/span><\/a> of Health had warned at the time of the danger of taking antibiotics without consulting doctors, stressing that excessive use of them contributes to reducing their effectiveness against bacteria. It said that antibiotics recommended by some people should be avoided, and stressed that antibiotics are taken only with a medical prescription from the treating doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>incident<\/span><\/a> of the death of two girls in Alexandria Governorate due to antibiotics in October 2022 sparked controversy over these drugs, as the two girls died after receiving an antibiotic injection inside a pharmacy without a prior sensitivity test, which led to an acute allergic reaction. In December of the same year, reports circulated from doctors who confirmed the death of 11 children <\/span>because of<\/span><\/a> counterfeit antibiotic injections”, and these posts caused a state of panic among families, but they were later officially denied. <\/span><\/p>\n

With the crisis returning to the forefront after the death of the Menoufia woman, the warnings returned once more, as the Ministry of Health <\/span>drew attention<\/span><\/a> to some wrong uses of antibiotics and reaffirmed the necessity of using them under medical supervision. For its part, the Egyptian Drug Authority <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> a decision obliging pharmaceutical companies, warehouses and distribution companies to ban the sale of types of injections of a specific category to public pharmacies, and to restrict their supply to medical facilities such as hospitals.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Drug Authority had <\/b>issued<\/b><\/a> last July a decision obliging pharmaceutical companies, warehouses and distribution companies to ban the sale of antibiotic injections of the “Reserve” category to public pharmacies, and to restrict supply to medical facilities such as hospitals. The Drug Authority’s regulatory guide explained that the instructions for pharmaceutical companies stipulated restricting the supply and storage of antibiotics of the “Reserve” category, in the pharmaceutical form prepared for injection, to warehouses holding a certificate of compliance with Good Storage and Distribution Practices “GSDP”, as well as supplying these preparations to licensed medical facilities, such as hospitals, while prohibiting their supply to public pharmacies.<\/b><\/p>\n

In an interview with Zawia3, <\/span>Ahmed Abu Douma<\/b>, a member of the board of the Pharmacists Syndicate, explains that antibiotic injections are among the medicines that must be dispensed under strict medical supervision, and should in no way be used without a direct recommendation from the doctor, as misusing antibiotics or dispensing them without medical consultation may lead to serious results, such as increased bacterial resistance to treatment, which makes it difficult to treat diseases in the future. In addition, there are some types of antibiotics that require a sensitivity test before receiving treatment with them, to make sure that the patient’s body does not suffer a serious allergic reaction that may lead to complications that could go as far as death.<\/span><\/p>\n

Abu Douma says that a large segment of patients in Egypt treat antibiotics with great disregard, as many ask for these medicines directly from the pharmacist without consulting the doctor; indeed, some of them resort to taking antibiotic injections to treat various illnesses, which is medically unacceptable and unsafe. This phenomenon points to an absence of health awareness among a segment of citizens, alongside poor adherence to proper medical procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Asked about the phenomenon of medicine counterfeiting and the extent of its connection to the antibiotic crisis, Abu Douma says it is a global problem and not limited to Egypt alone. Nevertheless, it can be said that rates of medicine counterfeiting in Egypt are relatively low compared with some other countries, which is positive, but this does not negate the existence of major challenges that require more effort to ensure the safety of the medicines available in the markets.<\/span><\/p>\n

He adds, speaking to us: “Here the decisive role of the citizen emerges in dealing only with legitimate outlets for buying medicines, such as licensed pharmacies that guarantee the sale of safe and reliable pharmaceutical products. Conversely, buying medicines online, or through social media pages or WhatsApp groups, must be avoided completely, as these channels represent the main source for the circulation of counterfeit medicines, which may contain harmful components or ineffective substances.” <\/span><\/p>\n

He continues: “The regulatory bodies, such as the Egyptian Drug Authority and other concerned bodies, also bear a major responsibility in confronting this phenomenon. It is necessary to tighten control over the web pages and applications that promote the sale of counterfeit or unlicensed medicines, given the great danger they pose to patients’ health. In addition, penalties on those running these illegal activities must be toughened, and the level of public awareness of the risks of dealing with unreliable sources of medicines must be raised.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>The Shortage of Psychiatric Medicines in Egypt: A Daily Struggle for Survival<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

A disaster under the eyes of the Ministry of Health<\/b><\/p>\n

Parliament entered the crisis, with a number of its members submitting urgent requests to the Ministry of Health and the concerned bodies to take the necessary measures to prevent the circulation of some antibiotics that lead to complications going as far as death. Samar Saleh, a member of the Health Committee of the House of Representatives, stressed the importance of the role of comprehensive health insurance in providing high-quality health services to all citizens, and <\/span>explained<\/span><\/a> in televised statements that she had submitted a briefing request to the House of Representatives on the risks of excessive use of antibiotics, stressing that this matter constitutes a major health threat and contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance, and calling for activating the role of pharmacies in raising citizens’ awareness of the risks of misusing medicines, and for strict adherence to doctors’ prescriptions. She drew attention to the importance of focusing on developing primary health care centres, especially in remote areas, in order to provide basic health services to citizens and reduce the pressure on hospitals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Samira El-Gazzar, a member of the Plan and Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, tells Zawia3 that the antibiotic injections that have spread and caused deaths are a disaster that happened under the eyes of the Ministry of Health. She explains that she submitted a briefing request to the government regarding the disaster of the spread of cold injections last November, in which I stressed that “these injections, which are called the magic mix, are administered in many pharmacies, especially in working-class areas, without oversight from the Ministry of Health, and the dangerous thing is that those injections contain cortisone, excessive use of which leads to weakened immunity, and it also has many harms for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure that may lead to their death.” <\/span><\/p>\n

Samira explains, speaking to us, that “these injections contain an antibiotic that does not treat viral colds; rather, its effectiveness is limited to bacterial infections only. I also demanded that the Minister of Health investigate these cases and reveal the bodies responsible for manufacturing these injections and the mechanism by which they reach citizens, especially since the ministry prohibits receiving any injections inside pharmacies, regardless of their type”, and she adds: “<\/span> After the woman’s death, we were surprised by the Ministry of Health coming out with a warning statement against taking the cold injection, but the warnings and guidelines the ministry announced were late, which points to clear negligence during the past two months.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Antibiotics<\/span><\/a> are among the essential medicines in combating bacterial infections, as they contribute to effectively treating many diseases caused by bacteria and help limit the spread of epidemics, and they also reduce the serious health complications that may result from bacterial infections. However, some antibiotics that used to be used to treat infections effectively no longer achieve the desired results, as they are no longer able to eliminate some types of bacteria as they should. When bacteria become able to resist the effect of antibiotics, they are called “antibiotic-resistant bacteria”, a worsening problem that has come to represent a serious global challenge in the field of public health.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the excessive use and misuse of antibiotics are among the main causes leading to the growth of the phenomenon of bacterial resistance to these medicines. Hence, individuals, health care providers and hospitals alike bear a great responsibility in rationalising the use of antibiotics, in a way that ensures they are used effectively without increasing resistance to them, which contributes to reducing the risks arising from this phenomenon and preserving the effectiveness of the treatments available to combat bacterial diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>Who Controls Egyptians’ Medicine? The Black Market Takes Centre Stage<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

An additional financial burden on patients<\/b><\/h1>\n

For his part, Mahmoud Fouad, executive director of the Egyptian Center for the Right to Medicine, raises growing concerns about the crisis of contaminated antibiotic injections, which have led to the death and injury of many patients. According to Fouad, monitoring of cases began in 2022, when 13 cases were recorded nationwide; the number rose in 2023 to 56 cases, while the current month of January has already seen three new cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking to Zawia3, Fouad points to a clear flaw in the mechanism for distributing injections, as the law prohibits the pharmacist from administering them to patients, his role being limited to selling medicines only, while the injections are supposed to be given inside public or private hospitals or doctors’ clinics. Nevertheless, patients face obstacles in public hospitals, which refuse to administer injections brought from outside, leaving them facing a single option: paying additional costs to obtain the necessary health care.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crisis worsens for patients who need daily injections, as some of them are forced to travel using means of transport that may cost them about EGP 20 a day, which increases the financial burdens on them, especially as the need for treatment continues over long periods, according to Fouad.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the other problems linked to this crisis, according to Fouad, is the widespread use of antibiotics without carrying out the necessary sensitivity test before the injection, a procedure that must be carried out exclusively in places equipped to deal with any potential complications. Fouad stresses that administering injections in pharmacies poses a grave danger, given that they lack the medical equipment required to deal with emergency cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

The director of the Egyptian Center for the Right to Medicine notes that the reason behind the increase in cases may be linked to the quality of the raw materials used in manufacturing medicines, as impure materials sold at low prices are widespread in the markets, which raises questions about the role of the regulatory bodies in examining those materials and ensuring their conformity with international specifications.<\/span><\/p>\n

He adds, speaking to us: “In light of these developments, citizens are raising many questions: Why has the Ministry of Health or the Egyptian Drug Authority not issued an official statement clarifying the position? What does the patient do when he cannot find the necessary injections in pharmacies? And why do the concerned bodies not act to regulate the medicine market and protect citizens’ health?<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Fouad, the crisis is worsening amid the spread of counterfeit medicines, which circulate in the markets because of weak oversight. Although a decision was issued in 2018 to withdraw counterfeit medicines worth EGP 550 million, the decision was not fully implemented because of the influence of some large companies. Fouad stresses that there are pharmacies run by unqualified people, some of whom are involved in selling medicines that do not conform to specifications, which increases the risk of new victims. Unlike developed countries, which rely on precise systems for tracking medicines, the Egyptian system faces difficulty in monitoring the sources of medicines and ensuring their quality. Fouad stresses that the continuation of the crisis negatively affects the reputation of the Egyptian health sector and threatens investments in the field of the pharmaceutical industry, in addition to its serious health repercussions.<\/span><\/p>\n

In conclusion, the antibiotic crisis in Egypt remains a growing health threat, amid the random consumption of these medicines and weak awareness of the potential risks of using them without medical supervision. While official warnings follow one another and regulatory decisions are issued to restrict the sale of some dangerous types, the biggest challenge remains the ability of the concerned bodies to impose strict oversight and ensure that pharmacies and citizens comply with those instructions. With colds spreading in the winter season, pressure on the medicine market increases, which opens the way for the circulation of counterfeit or low-quality medicines, aggravating the problem. In light of this reality, strengthening health awareness, tightening regulatory measures and ensuring the availability of safe and effective alternatives become essential to confront this recurring crisis and protect citizens’ lives.\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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