In a high-profile meeting that reaffirmed Egypt’s regional leadership in healthcare transformation, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region, held strategic discussions with Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.
The meeting focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in areas of shared priority — including digital health infrastructure, public health initiatives, and local vaccine and pharmaceutical production. The discussions highlighted Egypt’s pioneering health strategies and its growing influence in shaping health policies across the region.
Egypt’s Humanitarian and Health Leadership
Dr. Balkhy praised Egypt’s humanitarian response and cross-border medical solidarity, particularly its role in providing medical care for injured Palestinians and Sudanese citizens affected by regional conflicts.
Strategic Health Partnership
Dr. Abdel Ghaffar welcomed the WHO delegation warmly, emphasizing Egypt’s appreciation for the longstanding partnership with WHO. He highlighted the organization’s technical support for Egypt’s national health programs and expressed eagerness to expand cooperation across new frontiers.
Digital Health, Governance & Localization in Focus
The talks highlighted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to implement a science-based approach to reduce road traffic fatalities, and expand national expertise in public health management. Dr. Balkhy expressed admiration for Egypt’s institutional reforms, governance upgrades, and its ambition to digitize healthcare delivery in line with global best practices.
The localization of vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing was discussed as a critical pillar of Egypt’s health sovereignty strategy. The WHO delegation expressed readiness to provide technical guidance and facilitate investment partnerships to scale up local production capacity.
A Shared Vision for Regional Health Resilience
Also present at the meeting were key Egyptian officials, including Deputy Ministers Dr. Abla El-Alfi and Dr. Amr Qandil, as well as Dr. Mohamed Hassani, Assistant Minister for Public Health Initiatives. The WHO team included Dr. Naeema Al Gasseer, WHO Representative in Egypt, and senior technical experts across non-communicable diseases, emergency health systems, and health economics.
The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to translate dialogue into action through targeted collaborations, technical workshops, and cross-border knowledge sharing.
