Some 12.3 million Egyptians have been examined since the launch of the “Early Detection and Treatment of Chronic Diseases and Nephropathy” presidential initiative, the Ministry of Health and Population announced on Thursday 25/1/2024.
Launched in September 2021 with 3,601 primary care units nationwide, the initiative provides early diagnosis and treatment free of charge for chronic diseases and high-quality health services to all citizens over 40 years of age.
This comes in addition to the young individuals aged 18 and above with a history of chronic illnesses, the statement said.
Health Ministry Spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar noted that the initiative also provides blood pressure and diabetes tests, blood lipid tests, kidney examinations, and body mass index assessments, in addition to offering awareness services about risk factors associated with chronic diseases.
The initiative, Abdel-Ghaffar said, involves continuous follow-up visits for beneficiaries based on the results of the initial screenings
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Individuals diagnosed with chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes receive cost-free treatment either from healthcare units or are referred to hospitals based on their health status, he clarified.
Similarly, the spokesperson said, people with chronic kidney disease are referred to a hospital to receive the necessary treatment at no cost.
This treatment contributes to lowering the risk of chronic nephropathy, according to the guidelines for chronic diseases that have been developed in cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.
Source: State Information Service Egypt