Head of Government Affairs, Health Policy, and Market Access at Roche Egypt, Ziyad El Ahwal, said that Roche’s participation in the trilateral collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Health and the WifOR Institute stems from a shared vision: shifting healthcare from a cost to a long-term economic investment.
He explained that the partnership—centred on a foundational report co-developed by the Ministry and WifOR—reflects a commitment to using robust data to demonstrate how health innovation generates societal and economic returns in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
El Ahwal noted that Roche’s longstanding presence in Egypt has consistently focused on introducing high-value diagnostic and therapeutic solutions while strengthening local capabilities. He highlighted partnerships with GYPTO Pharma and Eva Pharma in 2022 and 2023, which supported the local manufacturing of advanced biologics and expanded Egypt’s industrial capacity and scientific workforce.
Discussing public–private cooperation, he said Roche’s nearly 40-year partnership with the Egyptian healthcare system stands as a model of sustained collaboration, underlining the importance of aligning with national strategies, fostering shared objectives, and ensuring that innovation delivers measurable patient benefits. He also outlined several ongoing initiatives aimed at expanding access to innovative medicines.
Roche continues to support national healthcare reforms through early detection programmes, upgraded diagnostics, and advanced therapies. A notable example is the company’s contribution to the Presidential Initiative for Women’s Health, which enhances the full breast cancer care pathway—from screening to treatment and follow-up. Beyond oncology, Roche contributes to hepatitis initiatives and recently partnered with the General Health Insurance Authority to strengthen ophthalmic healthcare governance.
In alignment with Vision 2030, El Ahwal reaffirmed Roche’s commitment to building national healthcare capabilities. The company invests heavily in training multidisciplinary teams, empowering local talent, and supporting the digital transformation of healthcare systems. Technology transfer and continuous educational programmes remain central to this approach, helping cultivate the scientific and technical expertise required for a modern, sustainable healthcare ecosystem.
CEO of the WifOR Institute, Dennis Ostwald, explained the core concept behind WifOR’s globally recognised “Societal Value of Health” framework. He described it as a scientifically grounded model that demonstrates why health should be viewed as an investment rather than an expenditure. Healthy populations, he noted, are more productive, more capable of learning and working, and better able to contribute to national development. Globally, the health sector contributed 7.6% to GDP in 2019—equivalent to $6.3tr—and supported 194 million jobs, clearly illustrating the economic impact of investing in health.
Ostwald emphasised that WifOR’s methodology differs from traditional Health Technology Assessment (HTA) by offering a broader, more comprehensive perspective. While HTA focuses mainly on clinical effectiveness and direct healthcare costs, the Societal Value of Health model measures wider benefits such as productivity gains, unpaid care, innovation, human capital development, and fiscal resilience. This enables governments to make more sustainable, impact-driven decisions.
Discussing the joint breast cancer study conducted with the Ministry of Health, Ostwald highlighted that HER2-positive breast cancer treatments in Egypt generated significant socioeconomic returns. Innovative therapies helped avoid an estimated $45m in productivity losses—equivalent to around 21% of the cost of constructing a specialised hospital. He noted that 62% of avoided productivity losses were linked to unpaid labour, including caregiving and household responsibilities, underscoring the often-overlooked economic value of unpaid work in Egyptian society.
He added that the study focused on only one subtype of breast cancer and a narrow set of therapies, indicating that the total societal value across all cancer types would be considerably greater.
Ostwald described Egypt as a leading example among low- and middle-income countries applying this methodology. Strong government leadership—particularly through the Ministry of Health and the Presidential Initiatives—has driven effective implementation and public engagement. This proactive approach enhances economic resilience, strengthens health outcomes, and positions Egypt as a regional pioneer.
He expressed confidence that Egypt could become a regional model, noting that it is already one of the most advanced countries in the MENA region in adopting the Societal Value of Health framework. Its commitment to innovation and evidence-based policymaking, he said, has the potential to inspire other nations seeking sustainable healthcare reforms.
