Cairo: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar participated on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, via video conference in the joint ministerial meeting convened by the African Union Commission (Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development) to strengthen cooperation among member states and increase health financing across the continent.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdel Ghaffar emphasized that the meeting aligns with the Addis Ababa Declaration and the principle of shared responsibility. He highlighted the critical moment the continent faces, necessitating decisive action to address the sharp decline in official development assistance, which has seen a 70% drop from USD 80 billion in 2021 to an expected USD 24 billion in 2025. Additionally, rising debt burdens, inflation, and recurring health emergencies were noted as significant challenges.
He warned that inaction could potentially reverse two decades of progress, lead to higher preventable deaths, and push 39 million Africans into poverty by 2030 due to catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditures.
The minister praised the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and its three-pillar strategy aimed at achieving health sovereignty. This strategy includes mobilizing domestic resources, adopting innovative financing mechanisms such as solidarity levies and health taxes, and promoting blended financing with private sector participation in infrastructure, local manufacturing, and digital transformation.
Abdel Ghaffar stressed the importance of good governance, transparent procurement, and robust digital systems to ensure that every dollar contributes effectively towards achieving health sovereignty.
The minister highlighted Egypt's successful experience in navigating global pressures, noting that the health budget has quadrupled over the past decade, reaching one trillion Egyptian pounds in 2024. Budget allocations also increased by 30.4% in the 2023/2024 fiscal year. Since 2019, Egypt has launched a Universal Health Insurance System and implemented 15 presidential health initiatives, delivering 260 million services through more than 3,500 primary care units.
He underscored that investment in preventive care yields high returns, stating that every dollar spent on vaccination saves USD 16-44, while investments in nutrition generate returns of up to USD 23. Egypt's approach focuses on strengthening the public sector while expanding partnerships with the private sector.
Abdel Ghaffar concluded with three key messages aligned with the Africa CDC framework: domestic commitment is irreplaceable, reform must be comprehensive, and partnerships multiply impact. He reaffirmed Egypt's full readiness to cooperate with all African nations through the African Union and Africa CDC to advance health sovereignty, equity, and resilience for every African citizen.