The Minister of Planning and Economic Development participates in the tenth session of the World Health Organization Council on the economics of health for all

Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, participated via video conference, in the session entitled "Planet and People's Health: Preparation for the Cop27 Conference of Parties, Opportunity, and Discussion", which was held within the activities of the tenth session of the World Health Organization Council on Health Economics for All, which includes a group of prominent economic and health experts in the world.



During her speech, El-Said stressed the importance of cooperation between Egypt and the World Health Organization, especially in the field of health promotion, supporting a qualitative leap around the world, and being a leading partner in global health responses.


She also commended the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All for its tireless efforts to help policymakers reframe their perceptions of health care as a long-term investment, not a short-term cost.


El-Said pointed out that climate change represents the greatest health threat facing humanity, as its effects harm health through air pollution, diseases and extreme weather phenomena, forced displacement, food insecurity, as well as pressures on mental health, explaining that environmental factors claim the lives of about 13 million people. annually.
El-Said explained that achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement may contribute to saving about one million lives worldwide by 2050 by reducing air pollution alone.
El-Said added that transportation produces about 20% of global carbon emissions, explaining that health systems are the main line of defense for the population facing emerging health threats, including those resulting from climate change.
El-Said added that most countries consider health a priority sector vulnerable to climate change, but there is still a huge financial gap, noting that less than 2% of multilateral climate funding goes to health projects.

El-Said talked about the health program of the previous COP26, referring to the initiatives taken within the framework of the program, which included building health systems capable of adapting to climate change.

El-Said also pointed to the chances of achieving the highest level of health for the planet and people: the path to the COP2, explaining that one of the main pillars of the WHO's mandate is to accelerate the strengthening of systems and tools for epidemic preparedness.


El-Said referred to the health initiatives taken by Egypt and the response to health challenges, stressing that the Egyptian government introduced several policies as a rapid response to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, noting the increase in the health budget in the fiscal year 20/21 by 100%.



El-Said explained that the capacity of public spending on the health sector amounted to nearly $17 billion, equivalent to EGP 270 billion, between the fiscal years 2018/2019 - 2021/2020, with a growth rate of 70% compared to the previous three years.