6 September 2022 – WHO Egypt held a workshop on 16 August in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the General Authority for Healthcare and the Supreme Council of University Hospitals to discuss the development of the national strategic plan for the hospital sector in Egypt.

During the sessions of the workshop, participants discussed the most important challenges and opportunities in the hospital sector in Egypt and the role and future of hospitals in the universal health insurance system. The participants also agreed on the most important priorities for developing and implementing the national strategy for hospitals.

Led by WHO's Dr Hamid Ravaghi, the workshop was based on the Regional Framework for Action for the Hospital Sector in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, endorsed by WHO Member States during the 66th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in 2019.

The framework aims to support the countries of the Region to prepare a roadmap for the transformation of hospitals into people-centred institutions and provides guidance on setting priorities at the policy and health facility levels and implementing national strategic plans for the hospital sector in the public and private sectors.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the urgent need to support universal health coverage, which would ensure health care facilities are adequately prepared and can efficiently respond to health emergencies to save lives and protect health of people,” said the WHO Representative in Egypt, Dr Naeema Al Gasseer.

“Egypt is already taking active steps in implementing universal health insurance and WHO is committed to supporting the government in providing high quality and affordable health care services to everyone living in Egypt and supporting the building of a resilient and green health system and health care facilities in the country,” she added.