Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a significant leap for medical innovation in the Middle East, Egypt has officially unveiled the region’s first fully homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) platform for the early detection of breast cancer. Developed entirely by Egyptian engineers and data scientists, the system was launched at Baheya Hospital in Sheikh Zayed by Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, in partnership with the Ministry’s Applied Innovation Center and the Baheya Foundation.
The AI-powered platform is designed to analyze mammogram images and provide highly accurate preliminary diagnoses, streamlining routine screenings, lowering treatment costs, and improving patient outcomes through earlier intervention. With an accuracy rate nearing 90 percent, the system is already in clinical use at Baheya’s branches in Sheikh Zayed and Haram.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Talaat described the initiative as “a milestone in harnessing artificial intelligence to serve healthcare,” stressing its importance in enhancing women’s health, a key pillar of Egypt’s public health strategy. He emphasized that the collaboration marks the beginning of a broader, long-term partnership between the Applied Innovation Center and Baheya Hospital.
Built through close coordination between radiologists, oncologists, data scientists, and software engineers, the system utilizes a comprehensive, high-quality Egyptian medical database. It includes more than 60,000 mammogram images, each classified by type, density, location, and diagnostic certainty. The AI engine is capable of detecting and classifying abnormal growths as benign or malignant and is designed to evolve over time through continued medical feedback.
Tamer Shawky, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Baheya Foundation, welcomed the partnership and praised the innovation. “This project enables faster, more accurate diagnoses and supports early detection—potentially saving the lives of thousands of women across Egypt,” he said. “We’re proud that Baheya is the first hospital in the region to deploy this breakthrough technology.”
Dr. Ahmed Tantawy, supervisor of the Applied Innovation Center, noted that the AI system was fully developed and trained in Egypt using local medical data. This localized approach, he said, ensures a higher level of relevance and accuracy compared to generic, imported systems. He confirmed that the AI solution has been integrated into Baheya’s daily operations, enabling smooth, real-time clinical support.
The launch reflects Egypt’s broader commitment to digital transformation, with AI emerging as a cornerstone of national healthcare modernization. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology confirmed plans to continue developing and refining the platform, with the aim of rolling it out to more hospitals and expanding its capabilities over time.
The initiative positions Egypt as a regional leader in AI-driven healthcare and sets a precedent for how locally developed technology can address critical public health challenges.
