Minister of Health Hala Zayed and Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy have held discussions on boosting Egypt’s health facilities and increasing their efficiency.
The discussions were held as Egypt continues its fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Shaarawy said that his ministry has compiled a list of medical devices and supplies that health facilities are in need of. He asserted that his ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Health to provide the financial support required to meet Egypt’s health sector needs.
He added that the Ministry of Local Development is keen to maximise the potential of Egypt’s health sector in the coming period. At the same time, there will be a focus on carrying out health projects that were halted, in order to provide medical services for citizens.
Shaarawy confirmed that the Upper Egypt Local Development Program (UELDP) will provide urgent funds of EGP 120m to support health facilities in Sohag and Qena governorates. The funds will go to raising the health sector’s capacity in both governorates, to combat the coronavirus pandemic. UELDP has received $500m in funding from the World Bank, and a $457m contribution from the Egyptian government.
Shaarawy and Zayed have also agreed to finalise a cooperation protocol between the Sohag and Qena governorates and the two ministries by July, which will provide financial support for health care services in these governorates.
Shaarawy indicated that 45 health units are being implemented as part of a presidential initiative to ensure Egyptian citizens can access decent living conditions. He noted that his ministry is providing about EGP 550m in the first phase with the second phase aiming to establish 214 health units.
Zayed added that a technical committee has been formed to manage donations received by the Ministry of Health. She explained that this committee will determine expenses based on actual needs and to provide the best medical service for all patients.
She added that the financial support will be used to meet the needs of hospitals in the three touristic governorates of the Red Sea, South Sinai, and Matrouh. The plan aims at providing intensive care units, laboratories, and CT scans, renewing the beds, in addition to developing quarantine at the airports in the tourism-centred governorates, Zayed said.
Zayed confirmed that Egypt has an adequate stock of medicines, as well as medical and preventive supplies in hospitals across the country. The minister noted that a contract was signed with major drug distribution companies to ensure medical supplies reach regional warehouses across Egypt. The move is to ensure the provision of a strategic stock to be distributed to hospitals.
