Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, chaired the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Egyptian Health Council, in the presence of Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance; Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Sir Magdi Yacoub, internationally renowned cardiac surgeon; Dr. Hisham Ali Sadek, Professor of Cardiology and Biophysics at the University of Arizona (via video conference); Dr. Mohamed Hany Oteiba, Consultant of Interventional Cardiology at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Scotland; Dr. Mohamed Lotfy, Chief Executive Officer of the Egyptian Health Council; and members of the Board.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasized the important role of the Egyptian Health Council in regulating professional health education and advancing the scientific and clinical standards of physicians through accrediting professional and specialized postgraduate training programs, as well as accrediting professional certifications, thereby contributing to achieving the highest standards of patient safety and improving the quality of medical services.
The meeting reviewed the Council’s achievements in the areas of professional licensing, the Egyptian Board, continuous professional development, and clinical guidelines, in addition to discussing the approval of its financial and administrative regulations.
The Minister also reviewed key statistics, noting that the number of trainees in human medicine exceeded 21,000 trainees, representing 90.3% of all trainees, while the number of institutionally accredited hospitals and medical centers reached 3,635, and the number of approved clinical guidelines reached 143.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stressed the importance of expanding the accreditation of hospitals nationwide and committing to the annual approval and implementation of 100 clinical guidelines across all healthcare facilities, alongside the precise application of periodic monitoring systems to ensure the quality of education and clinical training.
For his part, Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa affirmed that the state places great importance on developing the medical education system as one of the key pillars for advancing healthcare services. He noted that the Egyptian Health Council represents a central pillar in ensuring the quality of professional training and accreditation according to the latest international standards through integrated mechanisms, including the Egyptian Fellowship, the Egyptian Board, continuous professional development programs, and the preparation and updating of clinical guidelines governing medical practice, all of which contribute to enhancing the efficiency of medical personnel and improving healthcare quality.
Dr. Konsowa added that integration between the Ministries of Higher Education and Health is a fundamental pillar for developing Egypt’s healthcare and medical education systems, emphasizing the continuation of coordination and cooperation between the two ministries to strengthen training efficiency and prepare qualified medical professionals capable of meeting the demands of both local and regional labor markets, thereby supporting the advancement of healthcare services provided to citizens.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk affirmed the Ministry of Finance’s commitment to providing the necessary support to the Council and strengthening innovative financing mechanisms and international partnerships to ensure the financial sustainability of the healthcare system.
Dr. Mohamed Lotfy also reviewed the Council’s 2026 plan, which aims to enhance professional competencies, digital transformation, and international partnerships. The Minister directed the preparation of periodic reports to monitor the implementation of the plan.
