Ahmed Elsobky, Chairperson of the Egypt Healthcare Authority, met with Ulric Shannon, Ambassador of Canada to Egypt, to explore prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple healthcare sectors.
The meeting comes as part of efforts to strengthen international partnerships and leverage global expertise in support of Egypt’s ongoing healthcare reform programme.
Elsobky emphasised the Authority’s commitment to benefiting from advanced Canadian medical and digital technologies during the second phase of Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance System. He noted that such cooperation aligns with the Authority’s strategy to accelerate digital transformation, enhance operational efficiency and improve the quality of healthcare services in line with international standards.
He highlighted potential areas of collaboration, including continuous medical education and training through expert exchange programmes, as well as the launch of twinning initiatives with specialised Canadian medical centres—particularly in oncology—to advance cancer treatment services and adopt internationally recognised medical protocols.
Discussions also covered expanding cooperation in medical tourism to reinforce Egypt’s position as a regional destination for advanced healthcare services. This includes offering specialised healthcare packages for members of the Canadian community visiting Universal Health Insurance governorates, particularly tourist destinations such as Luxor, Aswan and South Sinai.
In addition, both sides explored accelerating green transformation within the healthcare sector by adopting environmentally sustainable practices in medical facilities, improving energy efficiency and supporting more resilient health systems.
The two parties agreed to organise a specialised workshop under the patronage of the Canadian Embassy, bringing together representatives of the Healthcare Authority, their Canadian counterparts and Canadian companies operating in Egypt. The workshop will promote public-private partnership models and draw on Canada’s experience in healthcare investment, technology transfer and knowledge exchange.
Elsobky noted that the second phase of the Universal Health Insurance System will include 65 hospitals and 450 primary healthcare units, underscoring the importance of transferring international expertise to ensure high-quality services. He cited the Canadian model as a successful example of public-private sector integration.
For his part, Ambassador Shannon reaffirmed that deepening relations with Egypt remains a priority for Canada, expressing interest in expanding healthcare cooperation in light of the opportunities presented by the Universal Health Insurance System. He added that Canadian companies operating in Egypt possess advanced expertise in digital medical records management, telemedicine and AI-powered diagnostics, which could enhance efficiency, improve diagnostic accuracy and expand access to services, particularly in remote areas.
