EGYPT HEALTH


REFORM1996-2002


The image of Egyptian healthcare was totally changed under the leadership of Ismail Sallam after being appointed as Minister of Health and Population of Egypt from 1996 to 2002 and in six years. Prof. Sallam was able to define the multiple challenges hindering the improvement of the health and welfare of the Egyptian people. His revolutionary vision was translated into a Health Sector Reform Strategy that was based on Elimination of Disparities within the health services. He, gave high priority to equity, accessibility and equality in health services. The Health Sector Reform Programs targeted the principals of Health for All with Primary Health Care as the focal point. A package of services was introduced and made accessible for the whole nation. Family Doctor Approach was implemented and the distant outreaching groups were covered through mobile clinics. 

During his term, there was a significant improvement of Egypt’s key health indicators over the last five years enabling Egypt to make a remarkable leap to rank 43 out of 191 countries on the index of health performance. The index reports how efficiently health systems translate expenditure into health as measured by disability-adjusted life expectancy (WHO, 2000) .

Dr. Sallam led major successful inter-secrtoral cooperation as he coordinated the efforts of various governmental institutions on the international and local levels, in order to improve water and food safety and to limit environmental pollution. In this context, the National Water Developmental Program was founded allowing for continuous surveillance of the public health water supplies.

The ministery of Health, in one year time, was able to control the epidemics that threatened the life of many citizens specially in underdeveloped areas. New policies and tactics were implented to prevent the occurrence of these epidemics. Environmental and social factors were carefuly monitored and kept under close survelliance. Another major achievement that was attained through this same inter-sectoral cooperation and community mobilization was control of Malaria in Egypt in1998. The health sector was able to lead the different sectors in rural areas in providing integrated services, thus maximizing the benefit for development.