Egypt’s Supreme Committee for Organ Transplantation convened to assess the country’s transplant program, reinforce regulatory oversight, and align practices with international medical standards, the Ministry of Health announced Monday.
Health Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar stated that the meeting addressed several key areas, including the formation of specialized subcommittees, strategies to counter misinformation on social media, and the introduction of a new regulation limiting transplant approval validity to one year. Under this regulation, each transplant program must be affiliated with a single licensed medical facility.
According to 2024 data, the committee issued 1,614 transplant approvals—1,194 for kidneys and 420 for livers. That year, 1,271 transplants were performed: 764 kidney and 234 liver transplants for Egyptian patients, and 188 kidney and 85 liver transplants for non-Egyptians. So far in 2025, 907 approvals have been issued (677 kidney, 230 liver).
Egypt currently has 40 licensed transplant centers operating across public, university, private, police, and military hospitals. In 2024, the committee renewed licenses for 14 liver and 18 kidney centers and approved five new hospitals under licensing decision No. 124. Random inspections of transplant facilities will continue, with immediate corrective actions enforced in cases of non-compliance.
The committee also reviewed mortality and morbidity data and discussed the governance of transplant procedures. One notable case involved a 62-year-old father successfully donating a kidney to his son after the procedure was cleared under Cabinet Decree No. 74 of 2023 and in accordance with Egypt’s Organ Transplant Law No. 5 of 2010.
Officials highlighted the urgent need for updated legislation and tighter oversight to safeguard the rights of both donors and recipients.
Established in 2023 under Decree No. 4497 and chaired by Minister of Health Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, the Supreme Committee includes leading medical figures, such as world-renowned heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub. It is supported by dedicated scientific, ethical, and licensing subcommittees to ensure that Egypt’s transplant practices meet global medical and ethical benchmarks.
