Egypt, France to enhance partnerships among health institutions
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said Sunday the Egyptian and French governments are working to enhance partnerships between their health institutions through bilateral agreements that focus on improving health services and exchanging expertise.
This came during the minister's meeting with French Ambassador to Egypt Eric Chevallier to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the health sector.
The meeting came on the sidelines of the first comprehensive health insurance forum, which witnessed the participation of an elite group of experts and decision-makers in the health field with the aim of discussing ways to enhance partnerships between the public and private sectors to achieve a more efficient and sustainable health system.
The meeting took up developments in cooperation and joint projects between the two countries, including cooperation between the French National Center Gustave Roussy and Dar es Salaam Oncology Center 'Hermel' to become the first center affiliated with Gustave Roussy outside France.
Talks tackled cooperation with the French side to support the Egyptian comprehensive health insurance project, as the two officials discussed ways of boosting cooperation between Egypt and France and the French Development Agency (AFD) in implementing comprehensive health coverage and strengthening partnerships within this framework, in addition to the support offered to the Egyptian healthcare sector by AFD, in collaboration with the World Bank.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CairoScene
an hour ago
- CairoScene
Statue of Dr. Magdi Yacoub Will Be Installed in Giza's Kit Kat Square
A new statue of Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub will be installed in Kit Kat Square, celebrating his contributions to cardiac surgery and decades of service to underserved communities in Egypt and beyond. Jun 23, 2025 A statue of Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, the renowned Egyptian-British heart surgeon, will soon be erected in Kit Kat Square, Giza. The initiative comes under a newly signed cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Culture and the Giza Governorate. The sculpture aims to commemorate Professor Sir Yacoub's contributions to medicine and public service, particularly his decades-long commitment to providing cardiac care to underserved communities in Egypt and abroad. The Ministry of Culture, through the Cultural Development Fund, will manage the project, overseeing artistic contracting and all technical phases. The Giza Governorate will support the project financially and ensure the square is suitably prepared to receive the statue. Born in 1935 in Belbeis, Professor Sir Yacoub rose to international prominence for his pioneering work in heart surgery and for founding several charitable heart foundations in both Egypt and the United Kingdom. The statue forms part of a broader national effort to recognise Egyptian figures whose legacies are defined by service and impact.
Al-Ahram Weekly
16 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
French scientists discover new blood type in Guadeloupe woman - Health - Life & Style
French scientists have identified a new blood type, dubbed "Gwada negative", belonging to a French woman from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. The woman is the only known carrier of what is now the world's 48th identified blood group system. A French woman from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe has been identified as the only known carrier of a new blood type, dubbed "Gwada negative," France's blood supply agency has announced. The announcement was made 15 years after researchers received a blood sample from a patient who was undergoing routine tests ahead of surgery, the French Blood Establishment (EFS) said on Friday. "The EFS has just discovered the 48th blood group system in the world!" the agency said in a statement on social network LinkedIn. "This discovery was officially recognised in early June in Milan by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT)." The scientific association had until now recognised 47 blood group systems. Correctly identifying patients' blood types is a crucial step in allowing them to receive potentially life-saving transfusions from compatible blood groups Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at the EFS involved in the discovery, told AFP that a "very unusual" antibody was first found in the patient in 2011. However, resources at the time did not allow for further research, he added Scientists were finally able to unravel the mystery in 2019 thanks to "high-throughput DNA sequencing", which highlighted a genetic mutation, Peyrard said. The patient, who was 54 at the time and lived in Paris, was undergoing routine tests before surgery when the unknown antibody was detected, Peyrard said. This woman "is undoubtedly the only known case in the world", said the expert. "She is the only person in the world who is compatible with herself," he said. Peyrard said the woman inherited the blood type from her father and mother, who each had the mutated gene. The name "Gwada negative", which refers to the patient's origins and "sounds good in all languages", has been popular with the experts, said Peyrard. The ABO blood group system was first discovered in the early 1900s, where blood type is identified by the presence or absence of specific antigens. Thanks to DNA sequencing, the discovery of new blood groups has accelerated in recent years. Peyrard and colleagues are now hoping to find other people with the same blood group. "Discovering new blood groups means offering patients with rare blood types a better level of care," the EFS said. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
4 days ago
- Egypt Today
PM tours factories manufacturing ultrasound machines, televisions and mobile screens
PM Madbouly during his inspection tour at 6 of October factories CAIRO - 19 JUNE 2025: Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly began Thursday his inspection tour of several factories in 6 of October City that manufacture ultrasound machines, televisions, and mobile phones. As part of his tour, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, inspected the project to establish the first factory in Africa and the Middle East to manufacture ultrasound machines and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, located in 6th of October City. This project is considered an important step towards strengthening Egypt's position as a regional center for medical technology. This project is the result of a strategic partnership between GE Healthcare, a global leader in medical technology and digital solutions, and Medinova, a subsidiary of Al Safi Group. 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. In this context, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar explained that the project to establish the first factory in Egypt and the Middle East to manufacture ultrasound devices "is a milestone in the history of manufacturing." The National Medical Center will directly contribute to supporting the healthcare sector's infrastructure, improving the quality of diagnostic services, and reducing reliance on imports. This will support market stability and provide advanced healthcare solutions for Egyptian citizens. During the tour, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, reviewed the project's advantages, which go beyond manufacturing, but also include the transfer and localization of technology and the training of Egyptian cadres. This will enhance human resource efficiency and strengthen local capabilities to transform Egypt into a regional center for the manufacture of advanced medical devices. 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. At the same time, The Deputy Prime Minister indicated that the establishment of the factory is a "strategic step toward establishing the foundations for a medical future whose components are manufactured by Egyptian hands. It opens broad horizons for a national healthcare system that is competitive, resilient in the face of challenges, and efficient in meeting the needs of Egyptian citizens." For his part, Mark Stoesz, President Enterprise Solutions and Partnerships International Markets at GE Healthcare, emphasized that "there are several motivations that encouraged us as a manufacturing company to establish operations in Egypt, most notably the Egyptian government's growing interest in healthcare, a focus that has not wavered or diminished despite the economic challenges facing the Egyptian government." He added that Egypt's large market, home to approximately 110 million citizens, also contributes to making Egypt a hub for entry into the African market. During his tour of the project, the Prime Minister listened to an explanation from Eng. Mohamed Haroun, General Manager of GE Healthcare Africa, who indicated that the new facility will localize the manufacturing and assembly of ultrasound and MRI systems to meet the growing demand in both the public and private sectors. By localizing these vital industries, the initiative contributes to achieving several pillars of Egypt's Vision 2030, including enhancing economic diversification, creating new job opportunities, and achieving self-sufficiency in medical technology. He added: "The factory will also enable the export of devices to regional markets, particularly in Africa, strengthening Egypt's role as a regional hub for innovation and production in the healthcare sector." Dr. Mostafa Madbouly also visited the site of a project to manufacture television and phone screens at the Safi Group factory in 6 of October city. He viewed the board production line, how they are manufactured, and how they are tested before moving on to the next production stage to ensure their safety. He then moved on to learn about the router production line, and then went to see the TV screen assembly stage. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister inquired about the percentage of local components, with the factory manager indicating that a large percentage of local components are relied upon in manufacturing, and there is a trend towards increasing this percentage in the coming stages. Engineer Safi Wahba, Founder and Chairman of Al Safi Investment Group, indicated that the total area of the Al Safi factory (which includes production lines for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging devices, in addition to production lines for communications devices, mobile phones, television screens, and others) is 25,000 square meters. The direct workforce is 2,000, while the indirect workforce is 1,000, with 25 production lines. The production capacity of the ultrasound factory is approximately 2,500 devices annually, while the production capacity of the MRI factory ranges between 40 and 50 devices annually. During his tour of the project, the Prime Minister learned about the various stages of the manufacturing plan, which include raw material inspection, device assembly points, software development, and manufacturing technology. Meanwhile, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar noted that the devices to be manufactured in this project are the same types of devices used in hospitals, whose equipment is being modernized and upgraded. Similar devices will also be used in the presidential "Decent Life" initiative to develop rural Egyptian villages, which will significantly reduce the import bill. Before concluding his inspection tour of the project, the Prime Minister reiterated his government's willingness to provide the company with all necessary support and facilities, encouraging it to explore manufacturing more medical devices beyond ultrasound machines. The Prime Minister was accompanied during his inspection tour of the project site by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population; Lieutenant General Kamel El Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport; Eng. Adel El Naggar, Governor of Giza; Dr. Ali El Ghamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority; and Dr. Hisham Steit, Head of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply, and Medical Technology Management. The event was welcomed by Mark Stoesz, President Enterprise Solutions and Partnerships International Markets at GE Healthcare; Eng. Safi Wahba, Founder and Chairman of Al Safi Group Investment; Dr. Hazem El Far, Chairman of Medinova, a subsidiary of Al Safi Group; Eng. Mohamed Haroun, General Manager of GE Healthcare Africa; Eng. Diaa Shaarawy, Chief Operating Officer of Al Safi Group; Eng. Islam Adel, General Manager of the Plant; and Maxime Auger, General Manager of the Ultrasound Division.
