Over 443,787 surgical operations have been conducted under Egyptian presidential initiative dealing with urgent waiting lists for surgical procedures, Minister of Health Hala Zayed announced on Monday.
In the statement, Zayed said the presidential initiative, which was launched in July 2018, continues to work despite the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. All urgent surgical procedures have been undertaken with all preventive and precautionary measures in place.
The ministry has allocated safe corridors for patients at all hospitals where the surgeries have taken place, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Health Ministry Spokesperson Khaled Mogahed said that the average number of operations performed has increased, to avoid the accumulation of new lists. This is particularly in regards to certain cases, such as open heart surgery, and ophthalmitis and catheterisation procedures.
Mogahed noted that the operations included 174,941 heart catheterisation operations, 26,760 open heart surgeries, 164,676 ophthalmology procedures, 21,766 neurosurgery operations, and 22,240 orthopedic procedures. A total of 28,880 surgeries on tumours were performed, alongside 2,991 cochlear implantation, 238 kidney transplants, and 358 liver transplants.
New medical specialisations were added to the initiative, with 748 peripheral catheterisation operations, and 162 cerebral catheterisations. All procedures and medication provided to patients were received free of charge
Mogahed added that a total of 22,026 cases were redirected to receive medicinal treatment, ensuring that they do not need any unnecessary surgical interventions.
The spokesperson pointed out that committees have been formed for most of the specialties covered by the initiative. The step comes as part of the framework developing work mechanisms under the national project dealing with the country’s waiting lists. The committees have also been formed to monitor the economic aspects of surgical operations, and follow up on all aspects of the initiative, whilst improving the quality of service provided to citizens.
