In a landmark step for healthcare innovation in the Middle East, Egypt has launched the first locally developed artificial intelligence (AI) system for early detection of breast cancer. The system was unveiled during a ceremony at Baheya Hospital in Sheikh Zayed, attended by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat.
The AI-powered solution, the first of its kind in the region, was jointly developed by Egypt’s Applied Innovation Center (AIC)—an arm of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)—and Baheya Foundation, a leading institution for free breast cancer care in Egypt.
The system leverages advanced AI algorithms to analyze mammogram images with an accuracy rate approaching 90%, offering early-stage diagnostic insights that can significantly reduce treatment costs and improve survival rates. Deployment of the system has already begun at Baheya’s facilities in both Haram and Sheikh Zayed.
Bridging Healthcare and Technology
The initiative is part of a broader cooperation agreement between AIC and Baheya Foundation to develop tech-enabled healthcare solutions. The AI engine behind the system was fully designed and trained by Egyptian engineers using a dataset of over 60,000 annotated mammogram images sourced from Egyptian patients.
This extensive dataset ensures high relevance to local population characteristics—an edge that foreign diagnostic systems often lack. The AI system not only detects abnormal masses but also categorizes them by type, density, shape, location, and malignancy potential.
Model of Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Dr. Ahmed Tantawy, supervisor of the Applied Innovation Center, highlighted that the system’s development required close collaboration between radiologists, oncologists, data scientists, and software engineers.
Eng. Tamer Shawky, Chairman of Baheya Foundation’s Board of Trustees, praised the partnership, calling it a “transformative step” for women’s health in Egypt.
AI applications in Healthcare
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology confirmed plans to expand the AI system’s reach, refine its predictive capabilities, and potentially apply similar models to other areas of early cancer detection.
Also present at the launch event were Dr. Noha Adly, Advisor to the Minister for R&D and Head of AIC’s Research Division, and Eng. Gilan Felfela, Member of Baheya Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
The launch positions Egypt at the forefront of AI applications in healthcare across the Middle East, marking a significant leap forward in the use of indigenous technology to tackle critical public health challenges.
