Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, met today with Dr. Hazem Abdelsami, Regional General Manager of MSD Egypt and Neighboring Countries, along with his delegation, to explore avenues for strengthening public-private collaboration in the healthcare sector.
Strategic Dialogue on Women’s Health
According to Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, the discussions focused on a range of mutual priorities aimed at enhancing the quality and accessibility of healthcare services across Egypt. These included:
- Expanding joint cooperation frameworks in line with current health sector developments.
- Supporting and scaling up the National Women’s Health Initiative, with MSD contributing through expertise, research, and public awareness.
- Enhancing coordination between MSD and Egypt’s Unified Procurement Authority (UPA) to optimize pharmaceutical procurement and supply chain efficiency.
Innovating Research and Clinical Trials
The meeting also emphasized the importance of scientific research and pharmaceutical innovation, particularly in the fields of oncology treatment and clinical trials. Both sides expressed a commitment to advancing collaborative research that upholds patient safety and ethical standards, while promoting mutual benefits.
Regional Visibility and Institutional Cooperation
A notable point of discussion was the potential collaboration between MSD and the League of Arab States to establish a specialized regional platform that highlights Egypt’s healthcare achievements. The goal is to reinforce Egypt’s regional leadership in healthcare and increase international visibility of its strategic initiatives.
High-Level Attendance
The meeting was attended by several senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Population, including Dr. Mohamed El-Tayeb, Deputy Minister, Dr. Mohamed Hassani, Assistant Minister for Public Health Initiatives, Dr. Peter Wagih, Assistant Minister for Curative Medicine, and Dr. Suzanne El-Zanaty, Director General of International Relations and Agreements.
From MSD’s side, attendees included: Dr. Osama Shaheen, Head of Government Affairs and Corporate Communications, Dr. Rana Hashem, Head of Medical Affairs, and Dr. Karim Abdel Wahab, Head of External Affairs.
Core Reform PPP
This meeting comes as part of Egypt’s broader strategy to enhance partnerships with leading international healthcare companies, leveraging their expertise to support the country’s health reform agenda and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
