Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, Assistant Minister of Health and Population for Institutional Development: The focus should shift toward building national technology instead of relying on imports.
Mr. Jarno Syrjälä, Under-secretary of State of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland for International Trade: The importance of strengthening joint cooperation between Egypt and Finland in modern technologies and artificial intelligence.
Dr. Khaled Alian, Vice Chairman of ECMI Medical Supplies Sector: There are promising opportunities in Egypt for medical manufacturing and export expansion.
Ms. Anna Godenhjelm, Vice President and General Manager of Reproductive Health at «Revvity»: “100 Million Health" is a leading model in healthcare development.
Dr. Hassan El-Kalla, Chief Executive Officer of CIRA Education: Egypt is a leading regional platform in developing the health sector and enhancing the health of women and children.
Mr. Matti Muikku, Area Export Manager at Planmeca: Accelerating digital transformation in dentistry and expanding responsiveness to growing needs has become a priority.
Within the framework of Egypt-Finland Business Forum, the fourth session was held under the title “Healthcare: Architecting a Future-Ready Ecosystem through Strategic Investment and Innovation" with high-level participation from representatives of the Egyptian and Finnish governments, including Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, Assistant Minister of Health and Population for Institutional Development; Mr. Jarno Syrjälä, Under-secretary of State of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland for International Trade; Dr. Khaled Alian, Vice Chairman of the Medical Supplies Sector at the Export Council for Medical Industries (ECMI); Ms. Anna Godenhjelm, Vice President and General Manager of Reproductive Health at «Revvity»; and Mr. Matti Muikku, Area Export Manager at Planmeca.
The session addressed prospects for cooperation between Egypt and Finland to develop the healthcare sector through a modern innovation-driven system, with a focus on women's and children's health, dental health, AI-based diagnostics, and telemedicine, in order to improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare services. It also discussed opportunities for joint investment in smart medical infrastructure, localization of medical industries in Egypt, strengthening supply chains and sector competitiveness, and benefiting from Finnish expertise in research and development and linking it with Egyptian industrial capabilities to build a sustainable and integrated healthcare system.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar emphasized the importance of cooperation to develop innovative solutions that meet local market needs, pointing to the shift toward building national technology instead of relying on imports. He noted promising opportunities for cooperation, particularly in women's and
children's health as a national priority, and highlighted Egypt's success in shifting from a treatment approach to prevention. He also stressed the importance of partnership with the private sector, affirming Egypt's readiness for practical implementation and cooperation with the Finnish side to build a successful model.
Mr. Jarno Syrjälä said that there is a focus on strengthening joint cooperation between Egypt and Finland in modern technologies and artificial intelligence, contributing to the development of innovative solutions, improving efficiency in vital sectors—especially healthcare—and supporting digital transformation and sustainable development.
Dr. Khaled Alian stated that Egypt has a strong base of medical products and radiology technologies, opening wide opportunities for cooperation in local manufacturing. He noted growing partnerships with African and Asian countries, as well as the competitive advantages of free zones, including customs and tax exemptions and export opportunities, and the benefit of trade agreements such as COMESA and the Agadir Agreement, stressing that Egypt is currently undergoing a technological transformation supporting the development and competitiveness of the medical sector.
Ms. Anna Godenhjelm stated that health is “a crown on the heads of the healthy…," stressing the importance of understanding the causes of neonatal morbidity to reduce mortality rates and develop healthcare services through the use of modern technologies in early diagnosis. She praised the significant development of the Egyptian healthcare system and national initiatives such as “100 Million Health," considering Egypt a model to be followed, and expressed her aspiration to strengthen joint cooperation.
Mr. Matti Muikku said there is increasing demand for dental healthcare services, noting the need to enhance investment in this vital sector. He stressed the importance of keeping pace with technological developments and artificial intelligence to simplify medical procedures, reduce service delivery time, and enable access to a larger number of beneficiaries while improving efficiency in dental healthcare services.
The session concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuing dialogue and coordination between both sides, strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors, in order to support a qualitative leap in the healthcare sector in Egypt and open new horizons for investment and international cooperation.
