File Photo: The head of the healthcare authority inspects the virtual hospital. Ahram.
Chairman of the General Authority for Healthcare (GAH) Ahmed El-Sobky inspected the final preparations for the facility during a visit to Ismailia, describing the project as a major step in transforming healthcare delivery in Egypt.
According to El-Sobky, the Ismailia Virtual Hospital will be the first of its kind in Egypt and Africa, the third in the Middle East, and the largest in the Arab world.
Unlike a conventional hospital, a virtual hospital does not primarily admit patients into physical wards. Instead, it serves as a central digital hub that connects hospitals and healthcare facilities through secure telecommunications and information technology systems. Specialists can remotely examine medical records, review diagnostic images, monitor critically ill patients in intensive care units, provide emergency consultations, and support doctors in other hospitals in real time. The model is designed to extend access to specialist care, particularly in underserved areas, while reducing unnecessary patient transfers and making more efficient use of medical expertise.
El-Sobky said the hospital will be an advanced centre for managing and delivering remote healthcare services by linking GAH facilities through a unified digital platform that enables the rapid exchange of medical data and supports clinical decision-making in real time.
The virtual hospital will include 119 digital and operational units, comprising 32 electronic triage units, 27 telecardiology units, 12 digital radiology and teleradiology units, 26 command-and-control centres, nine virtual outpatient clinics, seven remote emergency units, four virtual intensive care units, and specialized information technology units.
The facility will offer remote specialist consultations, patient follow-up services, support for emergency departments and intensive care units, and integrated radiology, laboratory and diagnostic services to improve response times and ensure continuity of care.
El-Sobky said the project would help achieve equitable access to healthcare by enabling residents in governorates covered by Egypt's Universal Health Insurance System to receive advanced specialist services without travelling long distances.
He directed officials to complete all technical and operational testing and ensure full integration with the authority's digital infrastructure before the hospital begins operations.
The healthcare authority will also launch an international training programme for the hospital's workforce. The programme includes overseas training for doctors at specialized global centres. Nursing staff will receive training in Italy and Germany to gain experience in operating virtual hospitals, digital medicine, and smart healthcare management.
El-Sobky said investing in qualified medical personnel is essential to the success of digital transformation, adding that advanced technologies can only improve healthcare outcomes when supported by well-trained professionals.
He added that the Ismailia Virtual Hospital is expected to become a national platform for expanding telemedicine, facilitating the exchange of medical expertise among healthcare facilities, and strengthening clinical decision-making through digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
The GAH chief said the project could serve as a model for establishing similar virtual hospitals in other governorates participating in Egypt's Universal Health Insurance System, supporting the country's ambition to become a regional hub for digital healthcare and medical innovation.
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