Minister of Health: Breast cancer is the most pressing health challenge
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, stressed President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s interest in the health sector and placing it at the forefront of national priorities, especially the breast tumor file, with the aim of providing a comprehensive and flexible healthy life for every Egyptian woman, noting that breast cancer is one of the most pressing health challenges, and its impact extends to families and societies. And economies.
This came during Dr. Abdel Ghaffar’s speech at the conference “Advancing the Implementation of the WHO Breast Cancer Initiative through Patient-Centered Care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.” Which was organized by the organization in partnership with the Eastern Mediterranean Alliance for Non-Communicable Diseases, on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (October 15-17, 2025) in Cairo, in the presence of deputy ministers of health from Oman and Russia, and representatives of international organizations.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar began his speech by extending his greetings to the ministers and representatives of the countries of the region and the success partners, conveying the greetings of the Egyptian state’s leadership. And the people to support the “Cairo Call for Action” In combating breast cancer and achieving the sustainable development goals, he stressed that this collective commitment to the principles of equity, innovation and cooperation constitutes the cornerstone for building a more flexible, comprehensive and human-focused response in the region.
He pointed to the suffering of women with advanced breast cancer, who face delays, fragmented care pathways and disparities in access to services, He said: “These are not systemic challenges, but rather human tragedies,” stressing that cooperation between Egypt and partners is capable of reducing infection rates, while emphasizing the importance of scientific research in the pharmaceutical industry to treat tumors for women and men.
He explained that the Global Breast Cancer Initiative represents a clear road map based on early detection, rapid diagnosis, comprehensive treatment and care. supportive, which improves recovery rates, reduces suffering, and promotes health equality, stressing that the conference slogan is “Patient-Centered Care.” It is not just a slogan, but a moral duty that obliges everyone to put women’s needs and dignity at the heart of planning.
He stressed that any health system can only be strong when it treats individuals, not numbers, providing care that heals with knowledge and compassion, noting that the event is a valuable opportunity to share national experiences of successes and challenges, and build regional consensus to accelerate the Universal Health Care Initiative (GBCI) and revive the call for Cairo.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stressed Egypt’s firm commitment to combating breast cancer, through expanding referral networks, decentralizing screening, investing in digital health platforms, enhancing quality assurance, and seeking sustainable financing, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, civil society, patient advocates, and countries of the region, to transform the “Cairo Call” From a document to a live action agenda that is translated into national plans, investments, and measurable results.
At the conclusion of his speech, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar looked forward to the coming year witnessing a celebration of tangible achievements that make the “Cairo Call” In fact, “patient-centered care” A distinctive feature of health systems in the Eastern Mediterranean.
For her part, Dr. Jalila bint Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health of Bahrain, reviewed her country’s experience in reducing infection rates through intensifying awareness and early examinations, which contributed to early detection.
Dr. Haitham Mohammed, Minister of Health of Sudan, said that breast cancer is the most common regionally, praising the unification of Efforts for prevention and treatment. Dr. Ahmed Ruwailah Abdullah, Minister of Health of Djibouti, also stressed the need for cooperation, awareness campaigns, and modernization of detection tools, praising the “Cairo Call”.
In conclusion, Dr. Ibtihal Al-Fadil, President of the Eastern Mediterranean Alliance for Non-Communicable Diseases, stressed the importance of communication between the public and private sectors and society for equitable access, considering the conference a platform for building Dialogue.
Dr. Hanan Balkhi, Regional Director of the World Health Organization for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, also welcomed the region’s efforts and praised Egypt’s efforts in developing early detection tools to reduce infections.
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