Egypt launches national plans to strengthen food safety system through 2030
His remarks came on Tuesday evening during the opening session of the second edition of the Egyptian Global Forum for Food Safety, held in conjunction with World Food Safety Day under the theme 'Food Safety – Scientific Applications.' The event was attended by senior officials, including Deputy Health Minister Amr Qandil, Health Care Authority head Ahmed El-Sobky, as well as representatives from key ministries and institutions.
Abdel Ghaffar noted that the forum serves as a vital platform for global experts and policymakers to collaborate, underscoring Egypt's commitment to improving food safety systems through scientific innovation and the adoption of digital monitoring tools at every stage of food production and handling.
He also announced the formation of the National Committee on Food and Nutrition Systems, which aims to enhance intersectoral coordination, align policies and programmes, and finalise Egypt's National Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Systems (2025–2030). This plan has been shaped through workshops and consultations that included government agencies, academia, and civil society organisations.
The minister reiterated that food safety is fundamental to public health and a shared responsibility that involves the government, the private sector, and civil society. He praised the National Food Safety Authority for its leading role and reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to supporting initiatives that ensure all Egyptians have access to safe and nutritious food.
Tarek El-Houby, head of the National Food Safety Authority, highlighted the authority's ongoing public awareness campaigns that encourage safe food handling practices. He commended the effective collaboration between the Health Ministry and partner institutions, which, he said, has helped strengthen Egypt's regulatory and oversight framework.
El-Houby further noted that global advances in food technology and innovation require science-based decision-making to maintain food safety and build a resilient health system. He stressed that food safety is not only critical to safeguarding public health but also serves as a cornerstone for building a secure and sustainable future for generations to come.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
16 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UHIS reaches Aswan - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
There is no doubt that there is dire need for a more effective health insurance system in Egypt capable of providing citizens with high-quality treatment at their outlet of choice. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Population has completed the first phase of the new health insurance system by introducing it to Aswan governorate. The official launch reflects the government's commitment to establishing an inclusive, solidarity-based healthcare system that prioritises citizens' health. Ahmed Al-Sobki, chairman of Healthcare Authority and the general supervisor of the Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS), noted that 97 healthcare facilities have been officially launched in Aswan so far, including in eight major hospitals: Aswan Specialised Hospital, Al-Ramad Specialised Hospital, Al-Masalla Specialised Hospital, Abu Simbel International Hospital, Aswan Oncology Centre, Kom Ombo Central Hospital, Daraw Central Hospital, and Nile Specialised Hospital. This is in addition to 89 family medicine centres and health units that are currently providing services. According to Al-Sobki, the target is to reach 123 healthcare facilities, including 11 hospitals and 121 family medicine centres, as the implementation phases are progressing. 'All facilities are being outfitted according to the highest technical and medical standards to ensure safe, high-quality healthcare for all beneficiaries,' stated Al-Sobki. 'The authority's healthcare network in Aswan delivers services across all levels: primary care such as general consultations and preventive services. Secondary care includes diagnostics, outpatient clinics, and emergency services. In addition to tertiary care, there are complex surgeries and specialised treatments. All medical services provided include comprehensive medical checkups, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, outpatient clinics, emergency response, and high-precision surgical procedures,' Al-Sobki said. He highlighted that the total investment in infrastructure for healthcare facilities in Aswan exceeds LE9 billion, with an additional LE2.5 billion allocated for medical and non-medical equipment as part of the government's broader vision to build an integrated, and sustainable healthcare infrastructure that meets global standards. Al-Sobki stated that the official launching in Aswan was a significant step towards completing the first phase of the UHIS across selected governorates. It reflects the government's determination to establish a comprehensive and equitable healthcare model, enabling all Upper Egypt citizens to access global standards of medical care without financial hardship. Al-Sobki revealed that 2.4 million citizens, with operational costs exceeding LE27.5 billion, have registered in the UHIS in Upper Egypt governorates (Luxor and Aswan). More than 27 million medical and therapeutic services have been delivered to beneficiaries across the region through 171 affiliated healthcare facilities. Among them are 24 million services provided in Luxor governorate, the second governorate to implement the UHIS. Three million services were delivered in Aswan. 'Nearly 400,000 surgeries and surgical interventions have been performed in Upper Egypt under the authority's facilities. These include highly complex procedures, many of which were conducted for the first time under the umbrella of the UHIS,' said Al-Sobki. He added that regardless of the actual cost of the surgery, citizens are required to pay less than LE450. Some procedures performed under the system would otherwise cost over LE1 million outside of insurance coverage. Al-Sobki affirmed that the authority has made a transformational upgrade of the healthcare infrastructure in Upper Egypt, with the provision of over 1,200 hospital beds across its facilities. These include general inpatient beds, Intensive Care Unit beds, and neonatal incubators, so as to meet the growing healthcare demands of the population and ensure access to highly advanced medical services. 'Around 40 per cent of these beds have been allocated to critical care services, such as intensive care and neonatal units,' he said. According to Al-Sobki, family health centres and units in Upper Egypt have provided more than 17 million family healthcare services to date, through 155 centres and units operating in the participating governorates. Additionally, over 1.3 million comprehensive medical checkups have been conducted, reinforcing the foundational role of family medicine as the primary point of access to the UHIS, via 150 medical facilities that have been officially accredited in accordance with the standards set by the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation which is internationally recognised by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare. * A version of this article appears in print in the 24 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily News Egypt
4 days ago
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation
Egypt's Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, on Tuesday inaugurated the Excellence in Neurosurgery Conference—a major international scientific gathering that unites top specialists from Egypt and around the world to explore cutting-edge advancements and share expertise in neurosurgery. In his opening remarks, Abdel Ghaffar highlighted the significance of the conference, which comes amid major progress in a field that exemplifies the fusion of advanced technology, multidisciplinary collaboration, and skilled human resources to deliver superior patient care. He noted that the Ministry of Health has prioritized neurosurgery through its inclusion in the Presidential Initiative to Eliminate Waiting Lists, launched in 2018. This initiative has enabled over 183,000 neurosurgical operations and 14,000 cerebral catheterizations, ultimately saving thousands of lives. The minister also pointed to the establishment of seven internationally accredited stroke centers, with plans underway to expand the network so that every governorate has access to rapid intervention and improved outcomes. During the conference, Abdel Ghaffar witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian General Authority for Healthcare and the Egyptian Health Council. The agreement aims to unify training and specialization frameworks in line with Egypt's Vision 2030, which seeks to build a modern, high-quality healthcare system. Ahmed El-Sobky, Chairperson of the General Authority for Healthcare, congratulated Abdel Ghaffar on receiving the Distinguished Leadership Award from the European Council for African and Middle Eastern Companies (ECAM). The award recognizes his leadership of the Arab Health Ministers Council over four years and his efforts to advance Egypt's health sector. El-Sobky noted that under Egypt's Universal Health Insurance system, more than 10,000 neurosurgical procedures have been carried out—75% of which were complex, high-skill surgeries, including 6,000 performed in the past year alone. He credited these remarkable achievements to strong political backing and investment in modern technology, such as surgical microscopes and neuro-endoscopy systems, which have significantly enhanced patient outcomes and shortened recovery times. Hamdy Nabawy, conference chairman, underscored the importance of the event as a platform for scientific dialogue that will help raise standards of care in this highly specialized field. Professor Si-Hun Kim of Korea University expressed gratitude for the invitation, sharing his experience of performing spinal surgeries in Egypt. He emphasized that ensuring pain-free recovery and the best possible patient outcomes should remain at the heart of every neurosurgical practice.
Egypt Independent
6 days ago
- Egypt Independent
'100 Days of Health' provides over 5mn free medical services in 3 days
Ministry of Health and Population announced on Saturday 19/7/2025 that a total of 5,063,722 free medical services were provided throughout three days since the launch of the third edition of the '100 Days of Health' campaign, which was launched on July 15, 2025. The campaign, which is implemented in accordance with the directives of Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, aims to improve healthcare services across the state. As many as 1,570,726 services were provided by the campaign on Friday, according to Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar. He added that the campaign had provided 616,883 services through the primary healthcare and family planning sector, 362,407 services via the therapeutic care sector, 205,377 services from health insurance organization hospitals and 5,402 emergency services delivered by the Egyptian Ambulance Organization. Moreover, the campaign had offered health awareness and educational services to 85,681 persons through community outreach teams deployed in public spaces, clubs, and shopping malls across governorates, the spokesman added.
