Egypt highlights private sector role in healthcare development, pharmaceutical localization

Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stressed the private sector’s central role in Egypt’s healthcare development, particularly in localizing pharmaceutical and vaccine production, which currently meets more than 91 percent of domestic market needs, as well as managing healthcare facilities and delivering high-quality services.

He made the remarks during a high-level roundtable organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, attended by healthcare and pharmaceutical industry leaders and representatives of major international and local companies operating in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Abdel Ghaffar outlined the main pillars of Egypt’s national healthcare strategy and the government’s efforts to ensure equitable access to high-quality medical services for citizens across all governorates.

He highlighted the gradual shift from reactive curative care to proactive preventive healthcare through expanded screening and early-detection programs. He also cited President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s support for efforts to reduce hepatitis C infection rates, culminating in Egypt’s receipt of international Gold Tier recognition on the path to eliminating the disease.

The minister also highlighted the Universal Health Insurance System and legislation regulating private-sector investment in healthcare infrastructure, saying these measures provide investors with a secure and stable legislative framework.

The ministry is accelerating digital transformation and automating administrative procedures for licensing medical facilities and registering pharmaceutical products, in full coordination with the Egyptian Drug Authority, he said.

Abdel Ghaffar underscored the government’s efforts to establish a transparent investment climate underpinned by predictability and regulatory stability, reducing paperwork and facilitating the introduction of advanced technologies and modern treatment solutions to the Egyptian market, thereby encouraging innovation and investment.

He also said Egypt’s healthcare system had demonstrated its capacity to withstand ongoing regional challenges and crises, reaffirming the government’s commitment to removing obstacles facing domestic and foreign investors and strengthening Egypt’s position as a leading regional hub for healthcare and medical tourism.