Egypt moves to boost cardiac arrest response

Egypt’s Ministry of Health has partnered with the Ministry of Interior’s Medical Services Sector to introduce automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in a pilot project to improve emergency medical response, the ministry announced.

The initiative follows directives from Egypt’s political leadership to strengthen rapid response systems for health emergencies. It also builds on a health ministry-led study, approved by the Cabinet, proposing the nationwide rollout of AEDs to address sudden cardiac arrest incidents.

The pilot project involves installing AED devices in select locations to aid in saving lives during the critical minutes following cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation — before patients can reach a hospital for specialised care.

The agreement also includes specialised training programmes, supervised by the Health Ministry, to ensure staff are fully equipped to use the AEDs. Certified participants will receive official credentials verifying their readiness to operate the life-saving devices effectively.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: M. S. Salama