Minister of Planning Joins INP's Annual Conference on "Health and Sustainable Development"

 H.E. Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, who also acts as Chairperson of the Board of the Institute of National Planning (INP), participated in the opening session of the institute's fourth annual conference focusing on "Health and Sustainable Development." Joining her were esteemed figures including Dr. Khalid Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population; Dr. Ashraf El Arabi, President of the National Planning Institute; Dr. Khalid Zakaria, Director of the Economic Policy Center at the Institute; Shawn Jones, Director of the USAID Mission in Egypt; and Dr. William Emek, Honorary Professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

During her speech at the session, Dr. Hala El Said expressed her pleasure at the high-level participation of experts, academics, and distinguished professors from various fields at the conference. She highlighted the successful partnership with Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and the Economic Governance Project funded by USAID. She emphasized the importance of today's conference, which addresses multiple aspects of one of the most critical development issues concerning governments and peoples—the role of health in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, "Good Health and Well-being." This goal aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Dr. El Said pointed out the significant challenges in achieving these targets globally, exacerbated by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed weaknesses in global healthcare systems. She noted that approximately 400 million people worldwide still lack access to essential health services, and progress toward achieving these goals varies widely among countries and even within regions of the same country.

Furthermore, amidst global recovery from the pandemic's impact and accompanying economic and social pressures, additional economic and geopolitical challenges have emerged, including the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the Gaza conflict, contributing to unprecedented inflation rates. Sustainable funding availability remains one of the critical challenges hindering universal health coverage worldwide. Dr. El Said stressed that achieving comprehensive health coverage is closely linked to achieving all other UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 1, "End Poverty in all its forms everywhere."

Dr. El Said underscored Egypt's proactive approach to addressing these challenges within a comprehensive developmental framework, particularly with health's role in combating poverty, social inequality, and economic disparities. She highlighted initiatives such as Egypt Vision 2030, which aims to improve citizens' health fairly and equitably, supported by strategic initiatives that include sustainable financing aligned with development needs and digital transformation efforts in healthcare and education.

Regarding national projects and initiatives, Dr. El Said discussed the "Decent Life" presidential initiative, Egypt's largest development initiative in terms of financial allocations and beneficiaries, which enhances public health services, clean water availability, and sanitation services to prevent diseases and improve public health. She also mentioned the "100 Million Health" initiative, focusing on early disease detection and treatment, chronic disease prevention, kidney disease management, women's health support, and addressing malnutrition among students.

Dr. El Said highlighted efforts to strengthen health sector governance, institutional development, and capacity building through collaboration between the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Health and Population, supported by Thunderbird School of Global Management in the USA. This collaborative effort aims to enhance healthcare governance and ensure service quality standards through the establishment of the General Authority for Health Accreditation and Regulation.

Concluding her remarks, Dr. Hala El Said affirmed that Egypt's efforts and initiatives are guided by strategic planning frameworks aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing social and economic disparities. She emphasized Egypt's adoption of a multidimensional approach to poverty alleviation, integrating data-driven developmental strategies to maximize demographic indicators for economic and developmental planning.

The Economic Planning and Development Minister concluded her speech by affirming that Egypt views health as an investment in human capital and sustainable development. She emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between various sectors, including health, education, and economic planning, to achieve comprehensive health coverage and improve public health outcomes. This holistic approach is integral to Egypt's strategic vision for sustainable development, aiming to address multidimensional poverty and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.

Furthermore, Dr. Hala El-Said highlighted Egypt's proactive approach in harnessing digital transformation to strengthen healthcare services and ensure efficient delivery. This includes expanding the use of electronic applications in health and education sectors, integrating demographic data into economic planning, and enhancing health information systems.

El-Said reiterated Egypt's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 on good health and well-being, amidst global challenges and crises. She underscored the significance of sustainable funding and policy coherence to advance universal health coverage and build resilient health systems.

The Annual Conference of the National Planning Institute on "Health and Sustainable Development" served as a platform to discuss these critical issues and foster partnerships with international institutions, academia, and experts, paving the way for a more prosperous future for future generations.