Egyptian healthcare system playing key role in alleviating suffering of Palestinians in Gaza: Sisi

Ahram Online , Monday 5 Feb 2024

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi praised on Monday the key role of the Egyptian healthcare sector in alleviating the severe humanitarian suffering endured by Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on the strip.

Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
Egypt s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi meets with Egypt s Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and Egypt s Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar in Cairo, 5 February 2024. Photo courtesy Egyptian Presidency.

 

The president made his remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Health Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar to discuss the country’s healthcare issues, according to the Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy.

They discussed further extending healthcare support to Gazans, including implementing a plan to treat Palestinians in 47 hospitals in eight governorates.

This is an increase over the 37 hospitals allocated, as of November

Since the start of the war on 7 October, Egypt has treated more than 2,200 Palestinians as Israel has destroyed most hospitals and medical facilities in the strip.

Egyptian doctors have performed nearly 1,200 surgeries on Palestinians.

In addition, the Egyptian Red Crescent has led a broad campaign to deliver medical supplies to the strip to alleviate a severe shortage.

Infrastructure upgrades
 

During the meeting, El-Sisi reviewed progress on national health projects, including upgrading the Nasser Medical Institute in Cairo to turn it into a global medical city.

Inaugurated in 1987 in Cairo, the institute provides mostly free healthcare to 450,000 people annually. 

The president also reviewed progress on developing the new Central Laboratories Headquarters project, Menouf Cancer Hospital, and the Umm El-Masreyyin Hospital Development Project. 

In addition, El-Sisi reviewed progress on establishing the Medical City project in the New Administrative Capital, according to Fahmy

State-funded programmes
 

El-Sisi was also updated on developments in the implementation of state-funded treatment programmes for citizens.

The state has paid for the treatment of over four million patients in 2023 at a total cost of EGP 22 billion

Waiting lists down
 

Moreover, El-Sisi also reviewed the package of investment incentives provided by the Cabinet for the healthcare sector.

The president stressed the need to spur investments in healthcare, increase the number of hospital beds to meet international standards, and attract more international and local investments in the health sector.

In this regard, El-Sisi stressed the need to provide the highest quality medical services to the citizens, especially for the disadvantaged.

The meeting also discussed the presidential initiatives for public health, including the presidential initiative to end waiting lists for surgeries, which has secured over two million operations since its launch in 2018.

Short link: