Ministry of Health and Population and MSD Egypt forge a strategic partnership to incorporate immunotherapy into the Presidential Initiative for Women’s Health Support
The Ministry of Health and Population held a press conference to highlight the progress achieved in enhancing the healthcare system for breast cancer patients, including the integration of immunotherapy into treatment protocols under the Presidential Initiative to Support Women’s Health, in collaboration with MSD Egypt.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Egypt, making it a public health priority that requires building on the achievements made in raising awareness, expanding screening coverage, strengthening early diagnosis, and improving referral pathways across the country. In this context, Egypt’s healthcare system continues to evolve to ensure that eligible patients benefit from innovative treatment approaches that contribute to improved clinical outcomes and support long-term disease management. This includes expanding access to immunotherapy within the public sector as part of the collaboration between the Ministry and MSD Egypt.
Immunotherapy is considered one of the most significant recent advancements in cancer treatment. It works by activating the body’s natural immune system and enabling it to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. Unlike some traditional treatment methods that directly target tumours, this approach focuses on enhancing the body’s own ability to fight the disease, making it a promising pathway for developing more advanced and effective therapies. In recent years, immunotherapy has brought a paradigm shift in oncology care, contributing to improved survival rates and enhanced quality of life for patients in many cases, while also expanding the range of treatment options available to both physicians and patients.
Dr. Mohamed Hassany, Assistant Minister of Health for Public Health Initiatives, stated that the initiative represents a successful model of partnership between the government and the private sector. Since 2018, presidential public health initiatives have delivered more than 240 million services to over 93 million citizens. The Women’s Health Initiative alone has provided more than 70 million services to over 23 million women.
He added that the initiative has contributed to the detection of approximately 40,000 breast cancer cases, with 80% identified at early stages. This has significantly improved recovery rates and reduced the average time between diagnosis and treatment from 180–280 days to just 49 days. Additionally, the proportion of late-stage cases has declined from 60% to 19.5%.
Dr. Tamer El-Husseiny, Vice Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority, emphasized the Authority’s role in accelerating the registration and evaluation of innovative therapies to ensure timely patient access while maintaining the highest quality standards.
Dr. Mohamed El-Akkad, Director General of the Specialized Medical Councils Administration, reviewed efforts to unify treatment protocols, develop standardized clinical guidelines, and establish specialized units to support data-driven decision-making.
Dr. Hisham El-Ghazaly, Head of the Initiative’s Scientific Committee, highlighted the development of the largest national breast cancer database and the adoption of evidence-based treatment protocols tailored to the Egyptian context.
Dr. Hatem Amin, Executive Director of the initiative, noted that scientific committees regularly update treatment protocols to align with the latest global practices while ensuring financial sustainability. He also confirmed that treatment is provided free of charge to all patients.
Dr. Radwa Emam, Director General of Health Awareness and Promotion Programs at the General Authority for Healthcare, underscored ongoing efforts to expand initiative services within the comprehensive health insurance system. These efforts include increasing service delivery points, implementing the latest treatment protocols, and enhancing early detection through public awareness programs.
Dr. Hazem Abdel-Samie, Egypt Country Lead, MSD, stated: “MSD Egypt believes that effective strategic partnerships are the key driver for accelerating access to innovative care for patients. We are therefore proud to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Population to support a comprehensive national pathway for breast cancer care—one that begins with early detection and extends beyond treatment to improving quality of life and long-term outcomes. In this context, immunotherapy stands out as one of the most important recent advancements in cancer treatment, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer, where it has contributed to a paradigm shift in treatment protocols by enhancing the immune system’s ability to recognize and effectively attack cancer cells”
At the conclusion of the event, Dr. Mohamed Hassany expressed his appreciation to the initiative’s teams, the scientific committee, and medical staff for their continued efforts in advancing the quality of healthcare for women.
