Ghana, Egypt urged to deepen healthcare cooperation

The Ambassador of Ghana to Egypt, Prof. Justice Solomon Korantwi-Barimah, has called for stronger Ghana-Egypt cooperation in healthcare, describing the sector as a promising area for deepening bilateral relations and advancing development across Africa.

Speaking at the Grand Medical Event 2026, held in Alexandria, Egypt, on Thursday, August 27, 2026, Prof. Korantwi-Barimah said healthcare cooperation should extend beyond the exchange of medical services to include medical education, laboratory diagnostics, research, technology transfer and private-sector investment.

The event, held under the theme “Bridging the Gap – When Results Change Decisions,” brought together medical practitioners, laboratory scientists, academics, researchers and other healthcare professionals to discuss developments in laboratory medicine and the role of diagnostic results in clinical decision-making.

The conference was organised by Shalaby Labs, Horizon and Helnan Antoniades Palace Hotel, under the auspices of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC).

Strengthening partnerships
Prof. Korantwi-Barimah said Ghana and Egypt had maintained longstanding and cordial relations and that healthcare could provide a new avenue for strengthening practical cooperation between the two countries.

He identified medical diagnostics and laboratory services, professional training, medical research, pharmaceutical development, hospital management, health technology and digital transformation as areas with significant potential for collaboration.

He encouraged Egyptian medical institutions, universities, diagnostic laboratories and private healthcare companies to establish partnerships with their Ghanaian counterparts.

According to him, such partnerships could facilitate knowledge transfer, build professional capacity and create opportunities for investment and innovation in both countries.

Africa
The Ambassador also called for stronger Egyptian engagement with African countries in the healthcare sector.

He noted that several African countries continued to face challenges related to access to specialised medical services, diagnostic infrastructure, modern medical technology, healthcare financing and specialised human resources.

He therefore advocated a partnership-based approach to Africa, stressing that cooperation should not be limited to commercial transactions.

He said sustainable partnerships involving medical training, technology transfer, professional exchanges, research and investment could contribute significantly to strengthening healthcare systems across the continent.

Ghana as gateway
Prof. Korantwi-Barimah further highlighted Ghana's potential as a platform for Egyptian healthcare institutions and companies seeking to expand their activities in West Africa.

He encouraged Egyptian healthcare stakeholders to explore partnerships with Ghanaian hospitals, universities, laboratories, research institutions and private healthcare providers.

Such partnerships, he said, could support the development of specialised medical services, strengthen diagnostic capacity and generate opportunities for investment and employment.

He also pointed to the activities of Egyptian healthcare companies operating or exploring opportunities elsewhere in Africa as evidence of the potential for greater private-sector engagement.

Bridging the gap
The Ambassador described the theme of the conference as particularly relevant to contemporary healthcare challenges.

He said advances in medical technology and laboratory diagnostics could only have their full impact when diagnostic information was accurately interpreted and effectively communicated to clinicians.

He stressed that bridging the gap between laboratory results and clinical decisions required close collaboration among laboratory scientists, physicians, researchers, hospitals, policymakers and private-sector institutions.

“Healthcare cooperation requires more than technological advancement; it requires collaboration, knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships and the movement of expertise across national boundaries,” he said.

Health diplomacy
The participation of the Ghanaian Ambassador added a diplomatic dimension to the scientific gathering, highlighting the growing role of health diplomacy in strengthening international relations.

Prof. Korantwi-Barimah said professional and scientific platforms provided valuable opportunities for countries to identify areas of common interest and build practical institutional relationships.

He encouraged Ghanaian and Egyptian stakeholders to sustain the contacts established through the event and translate professional engagements into concrete programmes and partnerships.

The Grand Medical Event 2026 attracted more than 1,000 doctors, professors and specialists, according to the organisers. The event also featured Prof. Dr. Tomris Ozben, President of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, as the international keynote speaker.

The Ambassador's intervention underscored the potential for healthcare to become an important pillar of Ghana-Egypt relations, while also promoting Egypt's broader engagement with Africa through medical expertise, investment, training and technology transfer.

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