Egypt completes over 2.6 million surgeries under national waiting list initiative

Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population has successfully conducted 2,606,736 surgeries as part of its national initiative to eliminate waiting lists for critical medical procedures. Launched in July 2018, the programme aims to provide timely surgical interventions, ensuring that patients receive necessary care without prolonged delays.

Ministry Spokesman for the Ministry of Health Hossam Abdel Ghaffar confirmed that since the initiative’s inception, 260,033 patient calls have been received via its dedicated hotline. Between July 2023 and February 2024 alone, the ministry followed up on 220,452 cases, expediting access to essential treatments. This is reported by Daily News Egypt, a partner of TV BRICS.

The initiative encompasses a broad range of critical surgeries, including cardiac procedures, orthopaedic operations, ophthalmology treatments, oncology interventions, neurosurgery, catheterisation, kidney and liver transplants, cochlear implants, and peripheral catheterisation. Patients are assigned to participating hospitals based on availability to ensure efficient service delivery.

All medical services under the programme are provided free of charge, with no financial burden placed on patients. The initiative is designed to prioritise urgent cases, enhance healthcare accessibility, and alleviate the suffering of those in need of immediate medical attention.

A key advancement under the programme is the integration of a unified electronic system, linking entities responsible for issuing treatment approvals. This digital infrastructure facilitates efficient hospital coordination based on capacity, streamlines patient transfers between healthcare providers, and optimises the allocation of medical resources, ultimately reducing waiting times and enhancing overall patient care.

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