Egypt, WHO explore expanded health cooperation

Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, met on Wednesday with World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, to enhance collaboration in key health priorities, including digital transformation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and early detection initiatives.

Abdel Ghaffar welcomed the WHO delegation, highlighting the strong and long-standing partnership between the organisation and Egypt’s health sector. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding this collaboration and thanked the WHO for its ongoing support for public health programmes nationwide.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the meeting reviewed the current scope of cooperation and identified future opportunities, particularly in human capital development and scientific strategies to reduce road traffic accidents.

The discussions also spotlighted Egypt’s successful early detection initiatives for cancer, which the WHO delegation described as a regional model. The delegation also praised Egypt’s achievements in addressing antimicrobial resistance, considering it a global best practice.

The meeting covered healthcare governance and institutional development, with both parties stressing the need to accelerate Egypt’s digital health transformation. Localising the production of medicines and vaccines was also a focus, in line with Egypt’s strategy to strengthen health security and reach vaccine self-sufficiency.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: M. S. Salama