Minister Zayed witnessing the signing of the protocol
Egypt's Health Minister Hala Zayed witnessed on Tuesday the signing of cooperation protocol between the ministry and Biologix/Biogen Biotechnology Company to provide treatment for the Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patients in the country.
According to a health ministry statement, the treatment will be for SMA patients from children aged above two years and will be free of charge as part of the state's initiative launched in June in line with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's directives.
During the event, Zayed expressed her appreciation for the cooperation between the state institutions as well as Biologix /Biogen Scientific Office in Egypt to provide the treatment and training for medical staff.
According to the latest figures released by the health ministry, 4,987 patients have been received in the clinics designated for SMA cases nationwide since June and that 178 cases were diagnosed too as well.
The ministry added that 52 children less than 2 years old have begun to receive treatment.
The ministry also stated that 15 to 20 centres are currently prepared to become SMA treatments nationwide.
The SMA is a genetic neuromuscular disorder that affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles (motor neurons). A rare neurological disease, its treatment is considered one of the most expensive treatments worldwide as one the recent treatments cost for each case reaches $3 million.
Zayed announced in June that an account was opened in the Long Live Egypt Fund for fundraising for the treatment of children with SMA.
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