Egypt unveils national strategy to boost patient safety, healthcare quality
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, chaired the inaugural meeting of the newly established High Committee for Enhancing Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety. The committee includes senior health officials such as Ahmed Taha, head of the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation, and Ahmed El Sobky, head of the General Authority for Healthcare, alongside ministry leaders and representatives from key health institutions.
Abdel Ghaffar stressed the need for coordinated efforts across institutions to establish unified national standards, enhance the training and qualification of medical personnel, and reduce preventable medical errors. He called for the formation of specialized subcommittees to develop policy recommendations and oversee the strategy's implementation. The comprehensive strategy is currently under development and will be reviewed by both the Egyptian Health Council and the Healthcare Accreditation Authority.
According to ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the strategy will serve as a foundational component in the rollout of Egypt's new Medical Liability Law, designed to institutionalize patient safety practices. A dedicated Patient Safety Department has also been activated within the Ministry of Health's new organizational framework to coordinate this effort.
Citing global statistics, Abdel Ghaffar noted that 4 out of every 100 patients in developing countries contract infections during hospital stays—a compelling reason for Egypt to align with international healthcare standards. The new department will lead efforts to unify safety protocols, improve system governance, and enhance operational efficiency across the national healthcare infrastructure.
The minister also highlighted the expansion of Egypt's professional diploma in patient safety, calling it a vital tool in reducing medical errors—particularly as Egypt continues to implement its Universal Health Insurance system.
Meeting participants reviewed the World Health Organization's definition of patient safety as 'the absence of preventable harm to a patient during the process of healthcare,' and examined the economic and human costs of inadequate safety systems. WHO's 2024 data shows that preventable adverse events impact 134 million people globally each year and lead to 2.6 million deaths, with medication errors alone costing the world economy an estimated $42bn annually.
Discussions included an analysis of the WHO's Global Patient Safety Action Plan (2021–2023), international safety models, and Egypt's proposed patient safety governance structure. This framework will include both a Healthcare Quality Committee and a Patient Safety Committee to improve service standards and reduce medical risks.
To drive the strategy forward, the meeting established several executive committees focused on strategic planning, quality research, monitoring and evaluation, international cooperation, and legislative reform. A preliminary roadmap with a detailed timeline was also presented, identifying major challenges—chief among them, the urgent need for widespread training of healthcare workers.
The Health Council has already produced eight clinical guideline manuals, and discussions addressed the need to standardize clinical protocols nationwide. Coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education is underway to ensure consistency in medical education and training. Joint efforts between the Health Ministry and the Health Council also include pediatric programs focused on delivering guideline-based care.
Finally, officials explored the establishment of a National Center for Patient Safety, envisioned as a cornerstone institution to foster a culture of safety, minimize risk exposure, and promote best practices throughout Egypt's healthcare system.
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