Wed 08/Oct/2025 – 06:32 PM
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, received Alexis Gusaled, Executive Director of the European Union of Drugs, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss aspects of joint cooperation in the areas of mental health, drug control, prevention, addiction treatment, and regulate related health services.
The Minister of Health discusses with the European Union Agency to develop mental health and addiction treatment programs
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stressed that the strengthening of the mental health system represents a maximum priority for the ministry, stressing the importance of benefiting from successful international experiences in this field, considering mental health is an essential pillar of the stability and prosperity of the Egyptian individual and society.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the meeting witnessed extensive discussions on the development of the mental and mental health system, and the exchange of innovative ideas to combat drugs.
The Minister reviewed the Egyptian efforts in this field, including addiction treatment programs, psychological care, and national research, stressing the need to enhance awareness of the dangers of health, psychological and mental drugs between the various groups of society, with a focus on the importance of early detection and rapid intervention.
The Minister reviewed the services provided by the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, which include toxins, rehabilitation, relapse prevention, family counseling, daycare programs, double diagnosis, and support for smoking.
The Ministry’s achievements also dealt with the training of multidisciplinary service providers – doctors, nurses, and psychologists – where the training of cadres has been completed in four governorates; Cairo, Alexandria, Eastern, and Minya, referring to efforts to develop the Egyptian National Drug Observatory, by integrating artificial intelligence to make up data instantaneously, and setting evidence policies, to devote the position of the observatory as a regional leader within the Middle East Drug Network.
For its part, the European delegation presented a presentation on the European Union for Drug Monitoring Eu4MD project, which aims to support neighboring countries in monitoring drug challenges, enhancing regional cooperation, exchanging experiences during its first stages 2019-2022 and the second 2023-2027, and the project also focuses on enhancing the technical capabilities of partner countries in collecting and analyzing data, identifying trends, and preparing to face health and security challenges.
The meeting was attended by the Ministry of Health: Dr. Zainab Al -Sadr, Assistant Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Ayman Abbas, Head of the Central Administration for the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, and Dr. Suzan Zanati, Director of the General Administration of External Health Relations. On the part of the European Union Agency for Drugs: Pedro Asaris Rodriguez, Head of Politics and Crime and Markets Unit, Cecil Martel, Head of the International Cooperation Sector, Ms. Liz Jacbison, Eu4MD II project, Mrs. Angelina Ichher, the European Union Ambassador to Egypt, and Dimitrius Karabakis, an expert in fighting terrorism and security.
