The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, stressed the critical importance of implementing Egypt’s digital health strategy to achieve health equity and ensure that vulnerable groups receive timely healthcare. This, he explained, is a key step toward promoting sustainable development in alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Dr. Abdel Ghaffar made these remarks during a meeting to discuss the progress of the digital health strategy, which was attended by the Minister’s deputies—Dr. Mohamed El-Tayeb, Dr. Abla Al-Alfi, and Dr. Amr Qandil—along with other key ministry leaders and officials responsible for the digital transformation agenda.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, revealed that the minister discussed the essential components of the digital health strategy in line with directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who has prioritized citizens’ health as a key pillar of Egypt’s human development agenda.
Dr. Abdel Ghaffar highlighted the importance of information exchange as a fundamental base for executing the national digital health strategy. He emphasized the activation of individual medical records for every citizen, the promotion of telemedicine services, and the significant role of artificial intelligence (AI) in strengthening health systems. Moreover, he stressed the importance of legislative preparation through the creation or modification of laws to establish a favorable environment for implementing the strategy.
The minister also discussed the transformative power of digital health, noting its capacity to drive advancements in healthcare systems worldwide by offering innovative solutions to improve medical outcomes, enhance service delivery, and optimize resource allocation. He reaffirmed the need for Egypt to integrate advanced digital technologies, health information systems, and innovative solutions to modernize its healthcare sector.
According to Dr. Abdel Ghaffar, the digital health strategy will enhance healthcare service delivery, increase resource utilization efficiency, empower healthcare professionals, and ensure that citizens receive seamless, high-quality healthcare services in adherence to international standards. The integration of AI technologies, he noted, is especially vital for revolutionizing Egypt’s health sector by supporting early diagnosis, the development of integrated electronic systems, and the creation of a unified national health record for all citizens.
Dr. Abdel Ghaffar also addressed the challenges and opportunities of implementing AI applications in healthcare, pointing to successful international AI-driven healthcare models. He highlighted the role of research and medical innovations in AI development, alongside partnerships with technology companies to drive innovation.
The meeting also touched on the potential for AI to significantly transform Egypt’s healthcare landscape, particularly in areas like early cancer detection, digital vaccination records, telehealth, and the establishment of a unified medical record for all citizens. The integration of advanced technologies will also contribute to optimizing healthcare logistics, including supply chain management.
In his remarks, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar emphasized that Egypt’s digital health strategy will not only improve healthcare provision but will also create a more equitable and accessible system. He underlined the need for continuous professional development (CPD) programs for healthcare and IT staff, as well as increased collaboration with academic institutions to incorporate digital health modules into medical and IT curricula.
The meeting also explored how to build a robust digital health ecosystem that ensures equitable access, enhances quality of care, fosters innovation, implements governance measures, and utilizes data-driven insights to create a healthier and more resilient society.
Furthermore, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar noted that the discussion involved an analytical review of digital health strategies from various countries, examining the challenges faced and proposing innovative solutions to achieve the outlined goals. The roadmap to realizing the digital health strategy’s objectives was also presented, with a focus on workforce capacity building, a crucial factor for the success of digital health initiatives.
