Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt’s minister showcases sweeping reforms at Moscow “Healthy Life” forum
Egypt’s Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar on Monday outlined what he described as three decades of sweeping reforms to the country’s healthcare system during a high‑level panel at Russia’s “Healthy Life” forum in Moscow, attended by Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.
Speaking at the event, Abdel Ghaffar said Egypt had shifted from a system focused largely on treatment to one built around prevention and early detection, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health. He pointed to early‑2000s challenges including high rates of hepatitis infections and the growing burden of both communicable and non‑communicable diseases.
Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said the minister detailed the impact of the “100 Million Health” presidential initiatives, which have delivered nearly 260 million medical screenings to about 93 million people. The tests targeted newborn hearing loss, genetic disorders, vision problems in children, anemia, obesity, stunting, hepatitis viruses, HIV, several cancers, diabetes, hypertension and lipid disorders.
The minister also highlighted Egypt’s recent scientific initiatives, including the national human genome project and the use of precision medicine in treating rare diseases and cancer. He noted the expanding role of digital tools and artificial intelligence in diagnosis and disease forecasting.
These efforts, he said, contributed to Egypt becoming the first country to receive the World Health Organization’s “gold level” certification for progress toward eliminating hepatitis C.
After the panel, the two ministers toured the medical exhibition held alongside the forum, visiting booths displaying the latest global medical technologies. Abdel Ghaffar reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to international cooperation and the exchange of expertise to improve public health and support scientific research.