Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, and Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, held an expanded meeting with the presidents of Egyptian universities to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation and integrating efforts in the Universal Health Insurance System. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health in the New Administrative Capital.
At the outset of the meeting, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar welcomed the attendees, emphasizing the importance of the strategic partnership between the two ministries to achieve the objectives of the system in its first and second phases, in line with the directives of the political leadership.
He stressed the importance of making the best use of university medical personnel and the scientific and research capabilities of the Ministry of Higher Education, alongside the operational capacities of the Ministry of Health, to ensure the sustainability of the system and improve the quality of services provided to citizens.
For his part, Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa affirmed that university hospitals represent a fundamental pillar in implementing the Universal Health Insurance System, stressing the Ministry’s priority in developing mechanisms for coordination and integration with all relevant entities, and supporting universities in preparing qualified medical professionals capable of keeping pace with rapid developments in the healthcare sector.
The Minister of Higher Education also highlighted the importance of maximizing the benefit from the academic and scientific expertise of faculty members, as this would positively reflect on the quality of healthcare services provided. He emphasized that continued coordination between the two ministries would support efforts to improve the healthcare system, noting that the implementation of universal health insurance would increase hospital capacity and improve treatment services, thereby ensuring the sustainable development of healthcare in Egypt.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the meeting addressed mechanisms for enhancing cooperation with university hospitals, digitizing and linking databases between the two parties, discussing challenges and ways to overcome them, strengthening medical personnel training programs, and expanding institutional contracts to provide the specialized staff required for the system.
The meeting was attended by university presidents, Dr. Abla El-Alfi, Deputy Minister of Health and Population, assistants to both ministers, heads of the General Authority for Healthcare, the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation, the Universal Health Insurance Authority, the President of the Egyptian Health Council, executive directors of the relevant authorities, as well as directors of health affairs directorates in the first-phase governorates.
