EGYPT – The Arab Republic of Egypt is still imposing restrictions on exports of medical oxygen except with the approval of selected national agencies.
Egypt has committed to banning the export of medical oxygen without approval by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and the Ministry for Trade and Industry (MTI).
In an official statement, Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir Saleh said that the export restrictions on medical oxygen will continue for the next twelve months, with effect from mid-July 2023.
It is in line with the framework of Egypt’s comprehensive plan to protect citizens and meet the needs of hospitals and medical institutions.
As per the government notice, the export ban was enforced to safeguard the country’s capacity to adequately supply medical oxygen to hospitals, medical institutions, and various healthcare facilities.
The export ban also seeks to improve access to medical oxygen in Egypt and across the African continent, which has been severely exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On his part, the Head of the Trade Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector Amany Al-Wasl stated: “After consulting the Ministry of Health and Population, it was found that the decision should continue to secure liquefied oxygen for medical services.”
This decision comes as Egypt’s medical exports increased by 14% to approximately US$530m in the first half of 2023, compared to US$467m in the same period last year.
With an increase in Egyptian commodity exports, the government will be able to support foreign currency resources, maintain financial stability, and, address the shortage of foreign currency supply in the African market.
Egypt’s Export Council for Medical Industries (ECMI) seeks to increase medical exports by 30% annually as part of the Egyptian state’s plans to grow total exports to US$100 billion.
However, the Ministry of Health and Population will only approve the export of surplus oxygen after the needs of the ministry are secured from the strategic stockpile.
Many levels of the health systems need medical oxygen, for instance, healthcare professionals use oxygen to treat respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and pneumonia.
According to the World Health Organization, medical-use oxygen is very different from industrial oxygen in purity and quality. Thus, industrial and medical use are not interchangeable.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Population upped the production of medical oxygen to ensure a higher flow of medical oxygen to hospitals.
Different units in the health system use medical oxygen including primary health care, general wards, emergency transport, delivery rooms, operating theatres, intensive care units (ICU), specialized hospitals, and outpatient units.
What’s more, Egypt continues its ban on the export of medical oxygen after the global medical oxygen cylinders market size was valued at US$4.0 billion in 2022.
The global medical oxygen gas cylinders market size was valued at US$2,971.40 million in 2020 and is estimated to reach US$5,337.50 million by 2030.
This global market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.40% from 2023 to 2030.
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