Cairo: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar participated in the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the global healthcare company Viatris. This agreement aims to bolster national efforts in supporting mental health services and aligns with the Presidential Initiative for Mental Health.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the MoU was signed by Ayman Abbas, head of the Central Administration of the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, on behalf of the Ministry, and Mohamed Adel Khalil Mahmoud Sweilem, the authorized representative of Viatris. The memorandum focuses on conducting awareness campaigns, exchanging expertise, and building the capacities of workers in the mental health sector.
The agreement includes plans for cooperation in training and scientific research, supporting programs for mental disorder awareness, prevention, and treatment, and developing service delivery mechanisms. It also aims to enhance the efficiency of medical teams and upgrade the electronic system of the Mental Health Support Initiative via its online platform. The ultimate goal is to increase community awareness and align with the objectives of Egypt Vision 2030 in mental healthcare.
Ayman Mokhtar, Regional President for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eurasia at Viatris, emphasized that effective mental healthcare requires a comprehensive approach, including accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and patient support, alongside strong public-private partnerships for sustainable outcomes. He highlighted the ‘Your Health Is Happiness’ initiative as a model for prioritizing mental and physical health.
During a meeting on the sidelines of the signing, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar discussed the implementation plan for the MoU, emphasizing the need to train healthcare professionals in early diagnostic tools, launch media campaigns, and develop culturally appropriate educational materials. The discussions also covered efforts to address various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, addiction, and mental health for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and the elderly. It was noted that over 5,000 healthcare service providers have been trained across the governorates.