Around 2,200 out of a sample of 5,843 pharmacies that were inspected in January were found in violation of government standards, according to Health Minister Adel al-Adawy.
Legal measures were taken against five pharmaceutical institutions found operating without license.
The licenses of 28 other institutions were ordered to be canceled. Six institutions were found to be selling smuggled Tramadol.
Egypt has nearly 50,000 pharmacies nationwide.
Spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said the ministry will take several measures to activate the pharmaceutical inspection sector on the middle- and long-run to confront cheating and guarantee citizens are provided with safe medicine.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
