The milestone is part of ongoing efforts to localize highly specialized healthcare services in Upper Egypt, reducing the need for patients to travel to other governorates for advanced treatment and improving access to quality medical care closer to their homes.
Ahmed El-Sobky, chairman of the Healthcare Authority, said introducing pediatric orthopedic deformity surgeries at Daraw Central Hospital aligns with the authority's strategy to expand specialized medical services across Upper Egypt and ensure equitable access to advanced healthcare.
He added that the authority continues to enhance the capabilities of its healthcare facilities and attract highly qualified medical professionals across various specialties to improve treatment outcomes and service quality.
El-Sobky said the successful procedures reflect the rapid development taking place across Healthcare Authority hospitals in Aswan.
Daraw Central Hospital, one of the authority's key healthcare facilities in Aswan, has more than 60 beds and provides a comprehensive range of medical, therapeutic, and diagnostic services, he noted.
Since joining the Healthcare Authority network, the hospital has delivered nearly 250,000 medical and treatment services to beneficiaries of the Universal Health Insurance System, reflecting growing public confidence in the quality of care provided there.
El-Sobky said that expanding specialized healthcare services in Upper Egypt is part of the authority's broader vision to promote healthcare equity and equal access to high-quality medical treatment, while reducing the burden on patients who would otherwise need to seek care elsewhere.
He added that the achievements recorded by Healthcare Authority facilities in governorates covered by the Universal Health Insurance System demonstrate the success of efforts to localize advanced medical specialties and ensure the sustainable delivery of safe, high-quality healthcare services in line with international standards.
The authority said the surgeries were carried out by a specialized medical team led by Mahmoud Madbouly, a consultant in pediatric orthopedic surgery and lecturer at Cairo University's Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, alongside consultant anesthesiologist Mohamed Mohrez and orthopedic specialists Mohamed Attia and Mohamed Khalaf.
The operations were conducted under the supervision of Mohamed Abou El-Wafa, director of Daraw Central Hospital, using the latest approved medical protocols to ensure the best possible treatment outcomes for children.
Egypt has been gradually rolling out its UHIS since 2019 as the country's flagship healthcare reform programme, aiming to provide comprehensive, high-quality healthcare coverage to all citizens regardless of income or geographic location.
The system, governed by Law No. 2 of 2018, is being implemented in phases across Egypt's governorates. It separates service provision, financing, and accreditation functions through three independent bodies: the Universal Health Insurance Authority (UHIA), which finances healthcare services; the Healthcare Authority (EHA), which operates hospitals and primary healthcare facilities; and the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR), which oversees quality standards and accreditation.
Egypt's UHIS is being rolled out nationwide in six phases. The first phase covers Port Said, Luxor, Ismailia, South Sinai, Suez, and Aswan, while the second phase is expected to include Damietta, Matrouh, Kafr El-Sheikh, Minya, and North Sinai.
The programme aims to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to all Egyptians while expanding access to advanced medical services in underserved governorates, particularly in Upper Egypt.
Short link: