Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi directed the government to launch an initiative for early detection and treatment of diseases and preventing mother-to-child transmission of infections during pregnancy.

El-Sisi made his directives during a meeting with Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait and Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed.

He ordered that the "Health of Pregnant Women" initiative be applied as of January 2020 in compliance with the best standards for early diagnosis and treatment.

During the meeting, El-Sisi followed up the health ministry's efforts, especially those related to measures underway to implement the new comprehensive healthcare insurance system in Port Said and the results of presidential initiatives to improve population health, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said.

Zayed also briefed the president on the ministry's plans to advance vocational medical education by improving the Egyptian Fellowships Program in cooperation with major international bodies granting medical certificates, especially the Royal British College and Harvard University.