PM reviews efforts to eliminate HCV in Egypt

CAIRO – 24 May 2018: Prime Minister Sherif Ismail held a meeting Thursday to review national efforts to eliminate Hepatits C virus (HCV), within the framework of Egypt’s HCV national treatment program launched in 2014.

Health Minister, Ahmed Emad el-Din; Finance Minister, Amr el-Garhi, and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar attended the meeting with Ismail.

During the meeting, Ismail affirmed the need to strengthen the efforts to completely eliminate HCV in Egypt. Ismail also highlighted the need to combat infection and to maintain safety standards in blood banks, clinics and hospitals.

Ismail also urged the acceleration of the Health Ministry’s efforts to conduct the comprehensive medical survey that was announced in April, with the aim of early detection of diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure and obesity, as well as Hepatitis C virus.

According to Health Minister Emad el-Din, the survey will be conducted in 87 positions in 26 governorates, and should target 43 million citizens in two years. He added that the survey covers the age group between 18 and 59 years old.



Since the launch of the national anti-HCV program in 2014, 1.4 million citizens infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reportedly treated.

By 2022, Egypt will be HCV-free, announced Yehya el-Shazly, president of the National Committee for Fighting Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infections, in 2017.

In February 2017, Egypt launched the "Tour and Cure" medical tourism initiative. The initiative offers treatment to HCV infected patients from all over the world, with an effective and advanced treatment program at a lower cost. Argentine football player Lionel Messi launched and promoted the "Tour and Cure" campaign through a visit in February.