Egypt unveiled Thursday a National Strategy for Rare Diseases during the opening of the 3rd Global Congress on Population, Health, and Human Development (PHDC'25), aiming to expand early detection, diagnosis, and specialised care for patients with rare conditions. Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said the strategy will broaden newborn screening programmes to cover thousands of infants annually and integrate rare disease patients into disability, education, and social protection systems. The new strategy is supported by the Egyptian Genome Project, which identifies genetic mutations to advance personalised medicine, and includes enhanced social and psychological support for patients and their families. According to a ministry statement, the strategy is structured around four key pillars: * Governance and data systems * Medical and technical capacity building * Expanded newborn screening, regional genetic centers, and centres of excellence to reduce diagnostic delays * Access to treatment and medicines Ghada Monib, chairperson of Forset Hayah Foundation, noted that rare diseases affect between 3.5 and 5.9 per cent of the global population, emphasising that the strategy provides a unified framework for patient support, early detection, and long-term care. Niazy Sallam, an advisory board member of the foundation, said the creation of a national registry and integrated coding and funding systems will make diagnosis and treatment more systematic and accessible. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
