Cairo: Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, met with Dr Valentina Prevolnik Rubel, Minister of Health of the Republic of Slovenia, to discuss cooperation between the two countries in the health sector. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 78th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Dr Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, explained that the meeting addressed ways to collaborate on exchanging expertise in the health sector. Discussions included hospital management, primary healthcare, preventive medicine, and marketing pharmaceutical products, as well as cooperation in the production of vaccines and biological products.

Abdel Ghaffar indicated that the meeting explored ways to enhance cooperation between specialised healthcare centres and research and training institutes affiliated with the health ministries in both countries. The exchange of expertise in family medicine, epidemic management, and natural disasters that cause health crises was also discussed.

He noted that the meeting addressed training and developing human resources in various areas of healthcare. This included nursing staff across multiple specialties such as intensive care, nursing service management, neonatal care, family medicine nursing, and ongoing training and education for nursing teams. Collaboration in training medical staff to provide healthcare services according to international standards was also a focal point.

Abdel Ghaffar highlighted that the meeting reviewed cooperation in the field of rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities and developing the medical prosthetics industry, benefiting from Slovenian experiences in this area.

Further discussions between the two ministers included cooperation in the digitisation of healthcare services, universal health coverage, and collaboration in medical tourism regarding areas of excellence on both sides.

Abdel Ghaffar added that the meeting also explored the possibility of exchanging expertise in developing a One Health strategy to enhance public health. This strategy includes combating zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and its impact on public health.