Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar

Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar
Nationality	Egyptian
Occupation	Physician, politician
Title	Deputy Prime Minister of Egypt; Minister of Health and Population
Known for	Serving as Egypt's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, later as Minister of Health and Population

Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar (Template:Lang-ar) is an Egyptian physician, academic, and government official who serves as Deputy Prime Minister of Egypt and Minister of Health and Population. A professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery by training, Abdel-Ghaffar first entered government as Egypt's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research before being appointed to his current dual portfolio. In his role as health minister, he has overseen a series of ambitious public health initiatives, including the expansion of Egypt's universal health insurance system, the localisation of medical technology manufacturing, and efforts to position Egypt as a regional hub for health investment and innovation. His tenure has been marked by sustained engagement with international health organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Economic Forum, on matters ranging from disease elimination to sustainable cancer care. Abdel-Ghaffar's leadership has coincided with a period of significant institutional transformation in Egypt's healthcare sector, encompassing the construction of new medical facilities in the country's New Administrative Capital, partnerships with global technology firms, and the pursuit of international accreditations for Egyptian medical units.

Career

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar served as Egypt's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research prior to his appointment to the health portfolio. In that capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the country's university system and research institutions. His academic background in oral and maxillofacial surgery informed his approach to higher education policy, particularly with respect to medical and scientific training programmes.

Minister of Health and Population

Abdel-Ghaffar was appointed Minister of Health and Population, a role he has held concurrently with the title of Deputy Prime Minister of Egypt. In this position, he has directed a broad programme of reform and modernisation across Egypt's healthcare infrastructure, public health policy, and international health diplomacy.

Universal Health Insurance Expansion

One of the central initiatives of Abdel-Ghaffar's tenure as health minister has been the continued rollout of Egypt's universal health insurance system. As of early 2026, Egypt was preparing for the pilot implementation of this system in the governorate of Minya as part of the second phase of the programme, which aims to expand coverage to additional segments of the Egyptian population. The universal health insurance programme represents one of the largest social welfare undertakings in Egypt's recent history, designed to provide comprehensive medical coverage to all citizens through a phased geographic rollout across the country's governorates.

Healthcare Infrastructure Development

Under Abdel-Ghaffar's leadership, the Ministry of Health and Population has pursued significant investments in healthcare infrastructure. In February 2026, Abdel-Ghaffar inaugurated a comprehensive stroke unit at a facility in Egypt's New Administrative Capital. The unit received accreditation from the World Stroke Organization (WSO), making it a recognised centre for acute stroke treatment and care. The establishment of internationally accredited medical units in the New Capital is part of a broader effort to build modern healthcare facilities as part of Egypt's urban expansion projects.

Abdel-Ghaffar has also engaged with the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) to accelerate the upgrading of healthcare facilities across the country. In February 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister held discussions with the AOI chairman to explore mechanisms for expediting improvements to hospitals and medical centres. The AOI, originally established as a defence manufacturing entity, has diversified into civilian sectors including medical equipment production, and its collaboration with the health ministry has been framed as a step toward greater self-sufficiency in healthcare infrastructure development.

Medical Technology Localisation

A recurring theme of Abdel-Ghaffar's ministerial agenda has been the localisation of medical technology manufacturing within Egypt. In December 2025, the ministry announced expanding strategic partnerships with global technology leaders, including Philips and General Electric, to localise the manufacturing of medical imaging technology in Egypt. The localisation initiative seeks to reduce Egypt's dependence on imported medical equipment, lower costs for the healthcare system, and create domestic industrial capacity in the medical technology sector. By bringing manufacturing processes for devices such as CT scanners, MRI machines, and X-ray equipment to Egyptian soil, the programme also aligns with the country's broader industrialisation and economic diversification goals.

Regional Health Hub Strategy

Abdel-Ghaffar has articulated a vision for Egypt as a regional centre for health investment and innovation. In October 2025, he stated publicly that Egypt had become a regional hub in these areas, citing the convergence of policy reforms, infrastructure investments, and international partnerships that had drawn attention from global health stakeholders and investors. This strategic positioning has involved efforts to attract foreign direct investment into Egypt's pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, establish Egypt as a site for clinical trials and medical research, and leverage the country's geographic position to serve healthcare markets across the Middle East and Africa.

Cancer Care Initiatives

Abdel-Ghaffar has been involved in efforts to advance cancer prevention and treatment in Egypt. In January 2026, he attended the 18th Breast Gynecological & Immunotherapy International Cancer Conference (BGICC), a major oncology conference, in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister. His participation underscored the government's engagement with the oncology community and its interest in strengthening cancer care infrastructure in Egypt.

Additionally, in January 2026, Abdel-Ghaffar represented Egypt's vision for sustainable breast cancer care at the World Economic Forum (WEF). At the WEF, he advanced Egypt's approach to integrating cancer care into broader health system strengthening efforts, emphasising sustainability and accessibility as core principles. The presentation at Davos placed Egypt's cancer care strategies in a global context and sought to attract partnerships and investment in oncology services.

Disease Elimination and International Accreditation

Under Abdel-Ghaffar's oversight, Egypt has pursued and maintained international health accreditations and certifications. In February 2026, Abdel-Ghaffar received an official communication from Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the WHO Regional Director, confirming that Egypt had retained its WHO accreditation as a measles and rubella-free country. This accreditation, granted by the WHO's regional verification commission, signifies that Egypt has met the international criteria for the elimination of endemic measles and rubella transmission. Maintaining this status requires sustained investment in vaccination programmes, disease surveillance systems, and rapid response capabilities, all of which fall under the purview of the Ministry of Health and Population.

The retention of measles and rubella-free status is considered a significant public health achievement for a country of Egypt's population size and demographic complexity. It reflects the effectiveness of the national immunisation programme and the epidemiological monitoring systems that the ministry has maintained and expanded during Abdel-Ghaffar's tenure.

International Health Diplomacy

Abdel-Ghaffar's tenure has been characterised by active engagement with international organisations and forums. His interactions with the WHO, the World Economic Forum, and the World Stroke Organization reflect a strategy of leveraging international partnerships and accreditations to advance domestic health objectives. By securing international recognition for Egyptian health programmes and facilities, the ministry has sought to build credibility for Egypt's healthcare system on the global stage, attract international cooperation and funding, and benchmark Egyptian health outcomes against international standards.

His appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026 to discuss breast cancer care is illustrative of this approach, as it placed Egyptian health policy in dialogue with global economic and development leaders.

Recognition

Abdel-Ghaffar's work as Minister of Health and Population has been acknowledged through several forms of institutional and international recognition. The WHO's confirmation of Egypt's continued status as a measles and rubella-free country represents a form of international validation of the public health programmes overseen during his tenure. Similarly, the World Stroke Organization's accreditation of the comprehensive stroke unit inaugurated in the New Administrative Capital reflects international recognition of the quality of newly established medical facilities.

His invitation to present Egypt's breast cancer care strategy at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026 indicates recognition of Egypt's health policy initiatives by the international economic and development community. The inclusion of health ministers in WEF programming reflects the growing intersection of global health policy with economic development agendas.

Abdel-Ghaffar's characterisation of Egypt as a "regional hub for health investment and innovation" has been reported in Egyptian and international media, contributing to the country's profile in global health governance circles.

Legacy

As of early 2026, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar's legacy continues to be shaped by ongoing policy initiatives. His tenure as Minister of Health and Population has been defined by several interconnected programmes: the expansion of universal health insurance, the construction and accreditation of new healthcare facilities, the localisation of medical technology manufacturing, and the pursuit of international health certifications.

The universal health insurance programme, with its pilot phase expanding to Minya in 2026, represents a long-term commitment to transforming healthcare access in Egypt. The full implementation of this system across all governorates will likely take years and will constitute a central element of any assessment of Abdel-Ghaffar's impact on Egyptian public health.

The medical technology localisation agreements with firms such as Philips and General Electric represent a structural shift in Egypt's approach to healthcare supply chains, with potential implications for the country's industrial base and its position in regional health markets.

The maintenance of Egypt's measles and rubella-free status, the establishment of WSO-accredited stroke units, and the engagement with the World Economic Forum on cancer care collectively represent a pattern of seeking international benchmarks and partnerships as vehicles for domestic health system improvement. Whether these initiatives produce sustained improvements in health outcomes for Egypt's population will be the principal measure by which Abdel-Ghaffar's contribution to Egyptian public health is evaluated.