Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt is moving to deepen cooperation with France in oncology care by enlisting French administrative and nursing teams at Gustave Roussy International–Egypt, as part of broader efforts to enhance hospital operations and improve cancer treatment services.
Minister of Health Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar issued directives on Monday to prepare a comprehensive plan for the deployment of French teams from the Gustave Roussy Institute, following the review of nearly 400 cancer cases by French specialists at the hospital during 2025. The move is aimed at strengthening institutional performance and raising the quality of oncology services in line with international standards, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.
The decision came during a meeting between Abdel-Ghaffar and the hospital’s board of directors, which focused on service development, performance indicators, and key operational challenges facing the facility. The minister instructed officials to address any obstacles immediately to ensure continuity of care and sustain the hospital’s recent progress.
Health Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar said French specialists reviewed 394 cancer cases at the hospital in 2025. He added that the new plan includes the regular deployment of French experts under an annual schedule, with the aim of harmonizing treatment protocols between Egypt and France and providing continuous training for Egyptian medical staff.
As part of efforts to expand the hospital’s clinical capacity, Abdel-Ghaffar also directed that the construction of bone marrow transplant rooms be completed within a clearly defined timeframe. Officials said plans are underway to introduce new surgical equipment, broaden surgical services to cover cancer types beyond breast cancer, and reinforce specialized medical teams in line with the hospital’s performance targets for 2025.
Currently, around 85 percent of patients treated at Gustave Roussy International–Egypt are breast cancer cases. Health officials said this has prompted a strategy to better distribute oncology patients across specialized facilities nationwide, while expanding treatment options for other types of cancer at the hospital.
In recent months, the hospital’s operating rooms have been upgraded to meet international medical standards, improving surgical precision and patient safety. New oncology surgeons, previously outside the state-funded treatment system, have also been recruited to widen access to advanced cancer care for patients unable to afford private services.
In June, the hospital began providing medical services to beneficiaries of Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance System. More than 150 cases were assessed under a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Health, with evaluations conducted by joint Egyptian-French medical teams.
Formerly known as Dar El-Salam Oncology Hospital, the facility is one of Egypt’s oldest public hospitals, dating back to the early 20th century. It was converted into a specialized oncology center in 2017 under a brand licensing agreement with the Gustave Roussy Institute, marking the launch of the French center’s first overseas branch.
Since then, the hospital has played a central role in national health initiatives, including the presidential women’s health programme, through which approximately 18,000 women received breast cancer screenings in 2019 alone. Gustave Roussy Institute was ranked among the world’s top five cancer centers by Newsweek in 2023, underscoring the strategic importance of the partnership in advancing cancer care in Egypt.
