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In an unprecedented health achievement reflecting the success of the national strategy to improve the healthcare system, the GLOBOCAN platform of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO) announced a significant decrease in incidence and mortality rates for several of the most common cancers in Egypt, particularly liver, bladder, and breast cancers. This marks the first such decrease since international statistical monitoring began.

This achievement reflects the positive impact of presidential initiatives, most notably the "100 Million Seha" initiative, along with the expansion of early detection and diagnosis programs and the updating of treatment protocols. These efforts have contributed to improved prevention and treatment indicators and a reduction in the burden of the disease.

The latest estimates from the Globocan Observatory show a 23.5% decrease in the standardized cancer mortality rate in Egypt and a 17.2% decrease in the standardized incidence rate between 2022 and 2024.

The data also revealed a decrease in new cases from 150,600 to 137,400 and a drop in deaths from 95,300 to 80,500, despite a 9.8% population increase during the same period. This reflects a significant improvement in the efficiency of the prevention, early detection, and treatment system.

Liver cancer saw the most significant improvement, with a 22.1% decrease in related deaths and a 16.7% decrease in incidence rates. The Minister of Health attributed this to the great success of the "100 Million Seha " initiative in eliminating the hepatitis C virus, which was a major risk factor for liver cancer.

In this context, Prof. Hisham El-Ghazaly, Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Director of the Egyptian Center for Medical Research at Ain Shams University, affirmed that this achievement reflects the success of the national work model based on integration and cohesion among state institutions. He pointed out that the results achieved by Egypt were the fruit of close cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, universities and university hospitals, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the private sector, and civil society organizations.

He explained that this institutional integration contributed to the implementation of effective national programs for prevention, early detection, and treatment, as well as supporting scientific research and training, and expanding the scope of health services, which directly impacted cancer control indicators and improved the quality of healthcare.

He added, "What Egypt has achieved today represents a successful model of institutional integration, and confirms that the combined efforts of all state institutions are the cornerstone for achieving sustainable health development, improving the quality of life for citizens, and enhancing Egypt's regional and international standing in the fight against non-communicable diseases."

Prof. Hisham El-Ghazaly also emphasized that reducing cancer incidence depends on minimizing risk factors, primarily smoking, hepatitis C infection, obesity, and the irrational use of hormones.

He added that Egypt has achieved a global milestone by eliminating hepatitis C, after being one of the countries most affected by it, which has directly contributed to a decrease in liver cancer rates.

He explained that this success was not solely due to prevention and early detection, but also to the provision of free treatment, the continuation of health initiatives, and the expansion of awareness campaigns and early screening programs.

These results confirm Egypt's advanced standing in the field of cancer control, as one of the countries that has succeeded in building an integrated healthcare system based on prevention, early detection, and treatment according to the latest international standards, while continuing to support scientific research and innovation to ensure the sustainability of this success and promote the health of its citizens.