Ministry of Health Clears 60% of Surgery Waiting Lists Since Fall 2024

The Ministry of Health and Population has announced that 60% of the national waiting lists for surgeries and medical procedures have been eliminated since August 2024. The update was shared by Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Health Affairs Committee, chaired by Dr. Ashraf Hatem.

The progress comes as part of the ministry’s broader 2024–2025 quarterly plan to accelerate access to medical care, especially for urgent and delayed procedures. According to Dr. Ahmed Mustafa, Head of the Health Insurance Authority, the original target for the period was to address 230,000 cases. The ministry exceeded this figure, completing 246,000 procedures, including 18,700 corneal transplants.

The committee reviewed the Ministry of Health’s latest performance report, assessing how current efforts align with its strategic objectives and earlier parliamentary recommendations. During the session, Abdel Ghaffar highlighted the ministry’s push to improve efficiency and capacity across public hospitals.

The national waiting list programme, first launched in 2018, aims to reduce surgical delays across key medical areas such as cardiac procedures, oncology, orthopaedics, and organ transplants. The programme has received renewed support as part of ongoing healthcare reforms, which include enhanced insurance coverage and digital patient tracking systems.

Efforts are expected to continue in the coming months to clear the remaining cases and reduce the average waiting time for critical medical services.