Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population announced on Sunday the commencement of mandatory medical examinations for candidates wishing to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections. This initiative, which coincides with the official call for voters, is designed to streamline election procedures and ensure the accuracy of medical reports in line with legal requirements.
Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, stated that the examinations will include comprehensive health checkups, laboratory tests, and drug and alcohol screenings, all conducted by the Central Laboratory Directorate and regional provincial laboratories. He highlighted that this initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to establish a unified, transparent medical evaluation system for all candidates.
“We aim to create a fair and standardized medical evaluation process for all prospective candidates, ensuring that the procedure is both transparent and in full compliance with legal standards,” Abdel Ghaffar said.
To facilitate this, the ministry has set up an extensive network of accredited hospitals and medical centers across the country, ensuring that all electoral districts are covered. The services will be available at major general and specialized hospitals in cities such as Cairo, Alexandria, and Giza, as well as in other governorates across Egypt.
For candidates with disabilities, medical assessments will be carried out by the General Directorate of Specialized Medical Councils, in accordance with Ministerial Decree No. 529 of 2025. This decree requires detailed technical reports that outline the type and extent of disability and its relevance to the candidate’s eligibility to run for office.
The ministry emphasized that the medical procedures will include measures to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all candidates, while adhering strictly to medical and legal standards.
Abdel Ghaffar also noted that dozens of hospitals and healthcare facilities have been approved nationwide to carry out the necessary exams, including those in remote governorates like North and South Sinai, the Red Sea, and Matrouh. This nationwide coverage is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
