Egypt witnesses unprecedented qualitative leap in fighting cancer: Minister

CAIRO - 21 July 2026: Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar affirmed that Egypt is witnessing an unprecedented qualitative leap in its fight against cancer.

 

The latest international estimates from the GLOBOCAN observatory, part of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization, have recorded a significant decrease in the burden of cancerous tumors nationwide.

 

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar stated: “Under the continuous guidance of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egypt has achieved a historic health accomplishment that is a source of pride for every Egyptian.

 

The massive national efforts have translated into tangible results recognized globally, with the standardized mortality rate from cancer decreasing by 23.5 percent and the standardized incidence rate by 17.2 percent between the 2022 and 2024 estimates. This improvement is not merely a statistic; it represents the thousands of lives saved and offers hope to millions of Egyptian families.”

 

The Minister added that despite a population increase of approximately 9.8 percent during the same period, the absolute number of new cases decreased from about 150,600 to 137,400, and deaths fell from 95,300 to 80,500.

 

Also, liver cancer saw the most significant decline, with deaths decreasing by 22.1 percent and new cases by 16.7 percent. This reflects the success of the President’s ‘100 Million Healthy Lives’ initiative in eradicating Hepatitis C, which was the leading cause of this type of cancer in Egypt.

 

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar continued: “Our success in combating Hepatitis C has shifted the landscape of cancer in Egypt. Breast cancer is now the most common, which motivates us to intensify our early detection programs nationwide. Bladder cancer also continues its decline thanks to the ongoing efforts to combat schistosomiasis, which have continued for decades.”

 

The Minister of Health affirmed that these positive results are the fruit of strategic investment in preventative healthcare, major presidential initiatives, and the tireless work of Egyptian medical teams. He noted that the Ministry is continuing to strengthen the national cancer registry and early detection programs to solidify this positive trajectory.

 

“Egypt is stronger in terms of health today, its people are more aware, and its leadership is more determined than ever to build a healthy and capable Egyptian citizen. We will continue to work diligently to maintain this progress and expand it to reach every Egyptian family, in accordance with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who always places the health of the Egyptian citizen at the forefront of the state’s priorities,” Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar concluded.