Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, received a high-level delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation in the healthcare sector, monitor the progress of ongoing projects, and explore future collaboration opportunities. At the outset of the meeting, Abdel Ghaffar expressed his appreciation for the AFD's role in supporting Egypt's healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of the partnership in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and improving the quality of healthcare services provided to citizens.
Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, stated that the meeting addressed several areas of current collaboration, including a project to support healthcare services and strengthen the capacities of primary healthcare units, as well as a program to bring in French experts to share knowledge in healthcare planning and health economics.
The discussion also focused on building the capacities of Egyptian medical staff through specialized training programs in hospital management, monitoring, and evaluation. These include sending medical teams to participate in exchange and training programs within French hospitals to gain hands-on experience in various clinical specialties.
The spokesperson noted that the meeting also touched on a new project in cooperation with the European Union aimed at upgrading Egypt's health units in line with the standards of the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR), as part of the government's broader plan to improve the quality of primary care services.
Moreover, the two sides explored the possibility of deploying French experts to provide on-the-job training in governorates involved in the second phase of Egypt's Universal Health Insurance System.
Abdel Ghaffar added that the talks included discussions on shared health challenges faced by both countries, particularly the high neonatal mortality rates. The two parties explored avenues for scientific cooperation and the exchange of expertise in this critical area.
For their part, representatives of the French Development Agency reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Ministry of Health, underscoring their dedication to supporting Egypt's healthcare development projects in alignment with national priorities.
They also expressed their keenness to play an active role in the healthcare sector as a cornerstone of sustainable development and pledged full support for the implementation of universal health coverage plans.
