Reducing total fertility rate to 2.1 children per woman by 2027

CAIRO – 10 April 2026: The Deputy Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Abla El-Alfy, has emphasized the critical importance of enhancing access to family planning methods through the private sector.

She highlighted the need to strengthen the role of manufacturers and suppliers while activating the Supreme Committee for family planning provision. This initiative is particularly urgent as approximately 350,000 women enter reproductive age annually, a demographic shift compounded by regional changes that necessitate immediate measures to curb population growth.

Dr. El-Alfy explained that increasing private sector participation, especially in the provision of long-acting contraceptives, is a fundamental pillar of the national strategy. Given the large number of citizens who rely on private facilities, this cooperation is essential to achieving the goals of the National Population and Development Strategy, which aims to reduce the total fertility rate to 2.1 children per woman by 2027.

The Deputy Minister underscored the importance of addressing specific statistical challenges, including reducing the 13.8% rate of unmet needs, decreasing unplanned pregnancies which currently stand at 20%, and lowering the 30% discontinuation rate of contraceptive use within the first year. She also stressed the necessity of correcting misconceptions and countering rumors that hinder family planning efforts.

Dr. El-Alfy called for intensifying awareness campaigns via social media, exploring the regulation of certain methods in private clinics, and ensuring the organized availability of contraceptive capsules in pharmacies. She further suggested studying the integration of private clinics into the central procurement system to guarantee affordable prices for all citizens.

Dr. El-Alfy maintained that addressing Egypt's population growth requires a comprehensive vision that integrates health, education, and economic efforts.

She pointed out that reducing the birth rate is not achieved solely through the provision of medical methods, but also through shifting societal attitudes toward the concept of "smaller families, better lives." One of the most effective mechanisms identified is improving the quality of reproductive health services within units and centers, ensuring the continuous availability of contraceptives either free of charge or at subsidized rates.

The Deputy Minister added that empowering women educationally and economically remains a key focus, as higher education levels and delaying the age of marriage directly contribute to lower birth rates. Furthermore, increased female participation in the labor market often shifts family priorities away from having a large number of children. She emphasized the media's crucial role in highlighting the negative economic and social consequences of overpopulation while showcasing the benefits of family planning for a family's quality of life.

Dr. El-Alfy pointed out the necessity of linking government support and social services to adherence to family planning programs.

Such measures would encourage families to adopt responsible reproductive practices. She concluded by stating that the population issue is not the responsibility of a single entity but a collective societal duty that begins with the family and extends to all state institutions.