Ahmed El-Sobky, Chairperson of Egypt’s General Authority for Healthcare and supervisor of the Universal Health Insurance Project, met with Gehan El-Emary, Chairperson and Managing Director of Novartis Egypt, on Sunday to review progress on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier in February. The MoU focuses on enhancing cancer care, expanding cardiology collaboration, and advancing medical training, and has seen notable progress, according to an official statement from the Authority.
During the meeting, El-Sobky reiterated the Authority’s strategic vision to transform the Aswan Oncology Center into a regional and research leader in cancer care, with support from international partners like Novartis. He also formally invited Novartis representatives to visit the center and identify new areas for collaboration on the ground.
Key discussion points included updating clinical protocols for breast cancer and heart disease, as well as scaling up training initiatives for healthcare professionals based on international standards. El-Sobky stressed the need to increase the number of physicians participating in these programs in partnership with Novartis to elevate healthcare delivery nationwide.
The two sides also examined the potential development of a certified digital training platform aimed at equipping family physicians with the skills to manage non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic heart conditions. In addition, they explored innovative public health campaigns and strategies to support continuous care in underserved regions.
Gehan El-Emary expressed her appreciation for the deepening collaboration with the General Authority for Healthcare and acknowledged the tangible results achieved through their joint efforts. She reaffirmed Novartis’s commitment to further strengthening this partnership, particularly in areas such as early detection, oncology, cardiology, and chronic disease management.