Why are medicines in Egypt so cheap?

Medicines in Egypt are cheap because their prices are strictly regulated by the state to ensure the availability of medications for broad segments of the population. Manufacturers are required to indicate a fixed retail price on each package, and pharmacies are not allowed to sell the drug at a higher price. This is the main reason why many medicines, especially antibiotics, antipyretics, and gastrointestinal remedies, can cost several times less than their counterparts in Russia or Europe.

However, it is worth being cautious about the common myth in travel blogs that 'medicines in Egypt are of the highest quality because counterfeiting is punishable by death.' This information does not find official confirmation. Moreover, according to some authoritative sources, the problem of counterfeit medicines in Egypt exists, and a significant share of pharmaceutical products may come from the black market. Therefore, it is so important to buy medicines in large, reputable pharmacies, where there is a higher chance of getting an original product stored under proper conditions.

Thus, the low price is a result of state regulation, not a guarantee of super quality. Buying medicines is advantageous, but it should be done wisely.

All the nuances, including how to read prices in Arabic and how to distinguish a good pharmacy, are covered in our article: Medicines from Egypt – what to buy, how and where to buy, prices.

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