Abdel Ghaffar highlights impact of regional conflicts on health services

Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population of Egypt, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, participated on Tuesday in the 71st session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, held in Qatar under the slogan "Health without Borders."
In his speech, the minister stressed that the current explosive conflicts in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon have seriously disrupted health systems and deteriorated health outcomes for countless individuals, affirming that Egypt stands in solidarity with its brothers in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon, providing humanitarian support and health assistance to alleviate their suffering. Abdel Ghaffar said that one of the biggest challenges facing the formulation of health policy in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is the diversity that characterizes the region, from large disparities in income, social conditions and access to technology, which in turn leads to large disparities in health. He explained that no single solution or policy can effectively meet the unique needs of each country, so this diversity must be considered a distinctive feature of the region and benefited from by taking advantage of the best practices and capabilities that each country has. The minister added that the WHO's 14th General Programme of Work provides an excellent basis for this approach, as it emphasizes the importance of effective partnerships with countries to maximize positive impacts on public health, and calls for amending WHO's operational strategies to enhance effectiveness at the country level. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that political commitment to universal health coverage, along with investment in strong health systems, are key elements for achieving long-term stability, security and prosperity in the region. He pointed out that the Egyptian government is working tirelessly to expand the scope of manufacturing medicines and vaccines to meet local needs and support other countries, noting that Egypt was selected in 2022 as one of the countries eligible to receive mRNA technology for manufacturing vaccines through the WHO Global Initiative and working in parallel to enhance international cooperation through the Accelerating Vaccine Manufacturing Mechanism in Africa (AVMA). Egypt is also participating in the ongoing negotiations in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Pandemic Treaty. Nevertheless, Abdel Ghaffar announced Egypt's welcome of the Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 79th session, which is a strong affirmation of our collective commitment. He further called on all countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region to participate in the second edition of the World Conference on Population, Health and Human Development, which will be held from 20 to 25 October in Cairo, under the patronage of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

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PM tours factories manufacturing ultrasound machines, televisions and mobile screens

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The goal is to develop an advanced facility in Egypt for the production of medical imaging devices, contributing to improving the quality of diagnostic healthcare and supporting the goals of Egypt's Vision 2030. Upon his arrival at the factory site, the Prime Minister affirmed that the Egyptian state is taking serious steps toward localizing several important industries and deepening the industry, with the participation of the local and foreign private sector, which has become a strategic partner in various development projects implemented by the state. There is also a strong trend toward localizing vital industries and strengthening international partnerships. In this context, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly explained that he had met with the CEO of GE Healthcare at the end of last year to review the project to manufacture ultrasound devices in Egypt. "As a government, we are confident that this will be a pioneering project in this field and will achieve the Egyptian state's goals in its plan to localize medical industries and devices," Madbouly said, emphasizing that the ongoing cooperation with GE Healthcare embodies an ambitious national vision aimed at advancing the healthcare system in Egypt. For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population praised the ongoing cooperation with the company, noting that localizing the medical device industry is a priority for the Ministry of Health. He expressed his appreciation for the company's choice of Egypt to localize the manufacture of ultrasound devices, in order to meet the needs of the Egyptian market and subsequently expand and export, particularly to Africa. 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He emphasized the Ministry of Health's continued support for these efforts, in coordination with various ministries and institutions, to achieve health, economic, and social development goals. Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar added that this initiative comes within the framework of an integrated strategy adopted by the Ministry of Health and Population, in cooperation with the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply and Supply, and the Medical Technology Department, and with the participation of relevant state authorities. This aims to support the local pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries, in line with the goals of Egypt Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, develop strategic industries, and provide new job opportunities for Egyptian youth, while enhancing the country's export capacity to regional markets, particularly African markets. 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