Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has achieved a major public health breakthrough after successfully reducing annual liver cancer deaths from nearly 5,000 cases to around 2,700, marking one of the country’s most significant healthcare victories in recent years under the nationwide “100 Million Health” initiative.
The achievement was highlighted during celebrations marking two years since the launch of the “Together to Safe Shores” campaign, held under the presidential initiative for the early detection and treatment of liver cancer patients in cooperation with AstraZeneca Egypt.
Egyptian Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said the country’s rapid progress against liver cancer reflects a comprehensive national strategy that began by targeting the root causes of the disease, particularly hepatitis C, which once represented one of Egypt’s most serious public health crises.
He described the “100 Million Health” campaign as a historic turning point after millions of Egyptians underwent nationwide screening and treatment programs for hepatitis C, helping Egypt dramatically reduce infection rates and earn international recognition for its elimination efforts.
According to the Ministry of Health, annual liver disease deaths in Egypt dropped sharply from nearly 41,000 cases in 2018 to around 18,000 in 2025. Liver cancer fatalities alone declined from approximately 5,000 to 2,700 annually, highlighting the growing success of Egypt’s early detection and treatment strategy.
Officials said the presidential liver cancer screening initiative, launched in 2019, significantly improved early diagnosis rates and expanded access to integrated treatment and follow-up care across the country.
Dr. Mohamed Abdullah, executive director of the initiative, revealed that the “Together to Safe Shores” campaign contributed to a 47% reduction in liver cancer mortality rates.
More than 104,000 citizens are currently enrolled in early detection programs through the initiative, while 6,153 liver cancer cases were identified at early stages, dramatically increasing patients’ chances of successful treatment.
The campaign also provided oral therapies to more than 6,500 patients and advanced immunotherapy treatments to nearly 2,500 others, in addition to training hundreds of healthcare workers to strengthen Egypt’s national cancer response capabilities.
International health officials praised Egypt’s achievements, describing the country as a global model in combating hepatitis-related diseases.
The World Health Organization’s representative in Egypt said the Egyptian experience has become an international benchmark in fighting hepatitis C and noted that Egypt became the first country to meet regional targets for combating hepatitis B, according to the WHO’s 2026 report.
Meanwhile, officials from AstraZeneca Egypt said their partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Health reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare system through early detection programs, advanced diagnostics, and access to modern treatment technologies.
The latest figures reinforce Egypt’s growing reputation as a regional leader in preventive healthcare and large-scale disease elimination campaigns, with officials pointing to liver cancer and hepatitis control as proof that coordinated national health policies can deliver transformative results on a national scale.
