Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, held a key meeting on Tuesday with the UK’s Trade Envoy to Egypt, Yasmin Qureshi, and British Ambassador to Cairo, Gareth Bayley, to strengthen bilateral healthcare cooperation and further Egypt’s medical and humanitarian support for Gaza.
Minister Abdel Ghaffar reiterated Egypt’s steadfast commitment to humanitarian principles, emphasizing its ongoing role in providing medical care to injured Palestinians. He highlighted Egypt’s efforts to treat wounded individuals in Egyptian hospitals and continue delivering critical medical supplies to Gaza’s strained healthcare system.
Strengthening Gaza’s Healthcare System
A central focus of the meeting was Egypt’s comprehensive plan to rebuild Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, developed in response to the devastating impacts of the war that began in October 2023. According to Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, the plan includes emergency measures that have been operational from the onset of the conflict and are set to continue through March 2025.
Key areas of discussion included the treatment of Palestinian patients, with a particular emphasis on the number of children vaccinated and the operation of 150 ambulances stationed at the border to facilitate the transport of the injured. The officials also reviewed hospital admissions and the classification of diseases among displaced individuals in Gaza.
Role of International Organizations
The discussions also addressed the vital role of international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF in supporting Gaza’s healthcare system, particularly in providing essential medical services and supplies during the ongoing crisis.
Potential UK-Egypt Healthcare Collaboration
Minister Abdel Ghaffar, Qureshi, and Bayley also explored avenues for collaboration between Egypt and the UK to enhance Gaza’s medical infrastructure, particularly in areas like oncology, diabetes treatment, and dental care. A proposal to enhance healthcare partnerships was presented, focusing on a collaboration between AstraZeneca and Egypt’s Unified Procurement Authority to improve healthcare outcomes in Gaza.
Qureshi commended Egypt’s continued support for Palestine, expressing appreciation for Minister Abdel Ghaffar’s leadership in delivering critical medical and humanitarian assistance to Gaza. British Ambassador Gareth Bayley praised Egypt’s role in aiding Gaza’s wounded and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to furthering healthcare cooperation with Egypt.
Later on, Amb. Bayley invited Minister Abdel Ghaffar to attend the upcoming British Egyptian Business Association (BEBA) meeting in May, a platform that will further foster business and healthcare partnerships between Egypt and the UK.
