Egypt introduces early cancer detection initiative – minister

The Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, announced the launch of the first stage of the Cancer Early Detection Presidential Initiative on Sunday.

The initiative is part of the 100 Million Health initiative and will offer free-of-charge early lung, prostate, colon, and cervix cancer detection services.

The initiative’s target is to reduce deaths and the financial burden affecting advanced cases, the Health Ministry Spokesperson, Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, stated.

The initiative’s first phase aims to screen between three and four million citizens for prostate and lung cancer and is being implemented in nine governorates, including Alexandria, Beheira, Matrouh, Damietta, Qalioubiya, Fayuom, Assiut, South Sinai, and Port Said.

The initiative is set to expand to more governorates in the future, Abdel Ghaffar added.

“Citizens over the age of 18 in these governorates have access to the services by visiting the nearest health unit and completing a questionnaire to determine which disease to test for, patients are then referred to initiative-affiliated hospitals for necessary radiological and laboratory tests,” said Abdel Ghaffar.

Patients with positive results will be directed to a multidisciplinary committee for an appropriate treatment plan.

Egypt’s 100 Million Health Initiative has been targeting minimising the number of cancer cases and deaths through various initiatives falling under the initiative.