Cairo, 28 October 2026 – Opella and the Egyptian Organization of Pharmacy, Development and Training (EOP) have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch “the Air and Allergy Care with Your Pharmacist” program, an education initiative designed to equip pharmacists with the scientific knowledge, air-quality information and practical tools to help people better understand and manage allergy symptoms that may be aggravated by air pollution.
The agreement was signed during the 9th Egyptian Pharmacists Conference & Middle East (EPC), held in Cairo on 24 October 2026. The initiative will roll out in Egypt, translating scientific evidence into practical support pharmacists can use in everyday conversations with consumers. At its heart, the program has a clear mission: to empower pharmacists to address the health impacts of pollution, helping communities live healthier lives.
Opella aims to equip healthcare professionals with evidence-based knowledge and practical resources to improve health outcomes. In Egypt, Opella is working with the EOP to translate this broader commitment into action through this program, supporting pharmacists in promoting allergy awareness and informed self-care within their communities.
Strengthening pharmacists’ role in responsible self-care
In Egypt, community pharmacists play an important role in everyday health decisions. A 2024 study of 1,630 Egyptian adults found that 62.8% had self-medicated during the previous three months. Among those respondents, 53.61% cited a pharmacist’s recommendation as the most common source of guidance. The findings highlight the important role pharmacists can play in supporting informed and responsible self-care, reinforcing the value of equipping them with evidence-based knowledge and practical tools. [1]
Air pollution adds another dimension to these routine health conversations. A 2025 meta-analysis of 64 studies involving more than 12.4 million participants reported a 16% prevalence of allergic rhinitis among populations exposed to air pollution and found positive associations between allergic rhinitis and pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, PM10, PM2.5, sulphur dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide. [2]
Feirouz Ellouze, General Manager, Opella Africa, Middle East and Türkiye: “Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in our communities. Through our commitment to pharmacist education and professional development, we are putting scientific knowledge, environmental information and practical tools directly into their hands, helping them turn knowledge into meaningful conversations at the pharmacy counter. By strengthening pharmacists’ ability to support informed self-care, we are helping make self-care as simple as it should be.”
Dr Marwa Mazen, Vice President of Egyptian organization of Pharmacy, Development and Training (EOP): “Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to translate scientific evidence into practical guidance people can use in their daily lives. Strengthening their understanding of the relationship between air pollution and allergic rhinitis, and giving them resources they can use in practice, will further support their contribution to respiratory health, health literacy and responsible self-care.”
Turning evidence into practical support
The four-hour program curriculum will cover air pollution and allergic rhinitis, symptom recognition, the pharmacist’s role in respiratory health and the supporting clinical evidence. Participating pharmacists will also receive a certificate, pharmacy badge and toolkit designed to support conversations with consumers at the pharmacy counter.
The initiative is also expected to introduce Air Quality Index (AQI) screens to help pharmacists discuss how changes in air quality may affect allergy symptoms. The screens are intended to support awareness and informed conversations rather than diagnosis.
The program will initially launch as a pilot, training approximately 400 pharmacists in Egypt and reaching an estimated 50,000 people till the end of 2026. The initiative is designed to expand progressively over time.
The initiative is being implemented by Opella and EOP as a standalone programme. By bringing together professional education, scientific evidence and environmental awareness, Opella and EOP aim to help pharmacists turn an often-overlooked factor in allergy management into a more informed self-care conversation.