Your Excellencies,
Dr Abla El Alfy, Deputy Minister of Health & Population for Population and Family, Ministry of Health & Population (MOHP);
Ms. Dina Elserafy, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation;
Dr Awad Tag Eldeen, Presidential Advisor on Health and Prevention Affairs;
Dr Nima, distinguished guests, colleagues, partners and friends,
It is a pleasure to be with you this evening for the first joint WHO–Egypt partnership event in Cairo.
As Regional Director for WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, I have the privilege of serving 22 countries and territories facing some of the world's greatest health challenges—and achieving some of its most remarkable successes. If you would like to learn more about WHO and our work across the Region, I invite you to scan the QR codes on the bookmarks provided this evening.
Last month at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, the world recognized several outstanding Egyptian health leaders.
Dr Amr Kandeel received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion, becoming the first Egyptian official to receive this distinction.
Dr Heba El Sewedy received the WHO Director-General’s Award for Global Health for her pioneering work in burn care and humanitarian action.
And, during a World Health Assembly side event, Dr Mohamed Eltayeb received the 2026 Arab Doctor Award for his contributions to good governance in health systems.
Their achievements are a source of national—and indeed regional—pride. They also reflect Egypt’s growing influence in shaping health policy and practice across the Region and beyond.
Despite economic pressures, regional instability and growing demands on health services, Egypt has undertaken one of the most ambitious health reform programmes in our Region.
Universal health insurance, investments in primary health care, digital transformation, disease elimination and health security are delivering measurable results and strengthening the foundations of the health system.
WHO has been proud to work alongside Egypt throughout these reforms.
Together, we have supported the rollout of the Universal Health Insurance System, strengthened health financing and governance, and advanced digital transformation.
Egypt has become the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to implement ICD-11 across both primary health care and hospital settings, creating a more integrated and data-driven health system.
Our partnership has also demonstrated what sustained investment in public health can achieve. Egypt’s progress towards hepatitis C elimination is recognized globally as one of the most significant public health achievements of recent decades. The country has achieved WHO Gold Tier status on the pathway to elimination, eliminated malaria and trachoma, reached regional hepatitis B control targets, and continues to advance towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis.
We have also worked closely to strengthen preparedness and health security through stronger surveillance systems, laboratory networks, emergency response capacities and workforce development programmes. These investments have delivered tangible results.
Another critical milestone was achieved last year when Egypt became the first country in Africa to attain WHO Maturity Level 3 for the regulation of both medicines and vaccines as a producing country, reinforcing its position as a regional leader in quality-assured medical products.
This year, the Egyptian Drug Authority was designated a WHO Regional Training Centre for biomanufacturing, further advancing Egypt’s contribution to regional manufacturing expertise and workforce development.
Egypt has also demonstrated extraordinary generosity in hosting one of the largest displaced and migrant populations in the Region. Extending health services to hundreds of thousands of people in need while sustaining national health reform speaks to Egypt’s resilience, solidarity and humanitarian commitment.
Health reform is often discussed in terms of policies, programmes and investments. But behind every major achievement is a partnership that made it possible. That is certainly true of Egypt’s experience.
It is also why this gathering matters. At a time when development assistance for health is shrinking globally, sustaining progress will require greater self-reliance, stronger partnerships and continued investment in health.
Egypt has also demonstrated leadership in global health governance. Alongside its role as co-chair of the High-Level Ministerial Working Group supporting negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system under the Pandemic Agreement, Egypt co-sponsored several World Health Assembly resolutions and co-hosted high-level side events, reflecting its growing influence in shaping the global health agenda.
WHO remains committed to supporting Egypt's health priorities and to working alongside our partners to ensure that every investment in health delivers better outcomes for its people.
