Rome: Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, met with Professor Orazio Schillaci, the Italian Minister of Health, during his visit to Italy. The meeting aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various health-related fields of mutual interest.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting was attended by Bassam Radi, Egypt's Ambassador to Italy, underscoring the commitment of both nations to strengthen bilateral relations and develop the health sector to benefit citizens in both countries. Dr Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, mentioned that discussions focused on collaboration with the Italian "San Donato" hospital group to exchange expertise and deliver high-quality health services.

The agenda included training Egyptian medical and nursing staff in Italy, with an emphasis on specialties like burn treatment, organ transplantation, and bone marrow transplants. Discussions also covered research and clinical trials at Italian research centers. Cooperation with the Italian "Gemelli IRCCS" center in radiation therapy for tumors and organ transplantation, as well as "Bambino Ges¹" hospital for pediatric tumor treatment, was reviewed.

Further topics included enhancing cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry, exporting medical products in coordination with the Egyptian Drug Authority, and leveraging Italian expertise in producing medicines for rare diseases. The possibility of establishing partnerships between Egyptian and Italian universities was also considered in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The official spokesperson highlighted that the meeting was a continuation of previous discussions held in Geneva during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. These discussions addressed cooperation in medical training, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and healthcare technology.