Cairo: The Ministry of Health and Population announced that more than 3.7 million surgeries have been completed under a national initiative aimed at clearing hospital waiting lists. The initiative, launched in July 2018, has successfully reduced delays for critical procedures and prevented new backlogs from forming.

According to State Information Service Egypt, a total of 3,768,067 operations have been carried out since the initiative's inception. The ministry reported receiving 353,253 calls through the initiative's hotline and has followed up on 328,023 post-surgery cases since July 2023 to ensure continuity of care.

Patients are centrally assigned to participating hospitals based on their capacity to help shorten waiting times. The ministry emphasized that procedures are provided free of charge, with priority given to urgent cases and patients with limited financial means. To support the programme, capacity at participating hospitals was expanded through staff training, the provision of medical equipment and supplies, and the implementation of a unified electronic system linking hospitals and relevant authorities for managing referrals and follow-up.

The initiative encompasses a wide range of major and specialized procedures, including heart and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, cancer treatment, neurosurgery, cardiac and cerebral catheterization, kidney and liver transplants, cochlear implants, and peripheral vascular interventions. The ministry also noted that citizens can register through the initiative's official website or by contacting the health hotlines 105 and 15300.