ICT Minister witnesses MoU between MCIT and Orange Egypt

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, has witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Orange Egypt to expand telemedicine services and deliver integrated, high-quality digital healthcare across villages, remote areas, and underserved communities.

The MoU was signed by Hoda Dahroug, Advisor to the ICT Minister for Digital Community Development at MCIT and Director of the Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development in Egypt (DT4SDE) project, and Maha Nagy, Chief Marketing Communications Officer at Orange Egypt. The signing ceremony was attended by Mohamed Shamroukh, Executive President of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Hesham Mahran, CEO of Orange Egypt, and Samer Saeed, Head of the Central Administration for Financial and Administrative Affairs at MCIT.

The agreement falls under the DT4SDE project, implemented by MCIT in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It aims to promote equitable and sustainable access to advanced digital healthcare services by expanding and developing telemedicine solutions through comprehensive, digitally automated, and scalable health interventions, in collaboration with civil society organizations and specialized medical convoys operating across various governorates.

Speaking at the event, Minister Talaat said the MoU strengthens MCIT’s efforts to leverage information technology to enhance the healthcare system and improve citizens’ access to quality medical services, particularly in remote and deprived areas. He noted that about 317 telemedicine units have already been deployed nationwide, linking central and university hospitals with healthcare units in remote locations to provide consultations across more than 100 medical specialties. He added that telemedicine technologies play a critical role in improving the accuracy and quality of medical services while reducing travel time and costs for citizens.

The Minister further emphasized that the partnership with Orange Egypt reflects an integrated approach involving government, the private sector, and civil society to accelerate digital transformation in healthcare, in line with the objectives of the Digital Egypt strategy to build an inclusive and sustainable digital society.

For his part, Orange Egypt CEO Hesham Mahran said the MoU aligns with national efforts to advance digital transformation and enhance healthcare services, especially in villages and remote areas. He explained that the project seeks to establish an integrated digital health system connecting healthcare units with university and central hospitals, while equipping medical staff with training and smart solutions to improve service efficiency and patient outcomes.

Mahran also described the cooperation as a successful public-private partnership model and reaffirmed Orange Egypt’s commitment to supporting digital transformation initiatives that improve quality of life and contribute to building a more efficient healthcare system.

Under the implementation framework, mobile telemedicine units will be deployed within medical convoys operated by civil society organizations to reach priority groups. These units will provide medical examinations, initial screenings, treatment services, and health awareness campaigns. The initiative is also expected to increase medical consultations, facilitate the exchange of expertise, interconnect specialized health facilities, enable rapid referral of critical cases, and support accurate diagnosis, thereby reducing pressure on hospitals and promoting healthcare equity.

The MoU will run for two years, during which MCIT will oversee the preparation of digital medical units, technical and operational monitoring, awareness activities, and capacity-building efforts in coordination with civil society organizations. Orange Egypt, through its corporate social responsibility programmes, will fully fund the project, including equipping the units and implementing training and awareness initiatives in line with high standards of transparency and governance.

The project supports the state’s strategy to deliver inclusive digital healthcare services accessible to all citizens without discrimination, while addressing social, economic, and environmental sustainability considerations. It also builds on the achievements of the presidential telemedicine initiative, implemented in partnership with MCIT and the Ministries of Health and Population and Higher Education and Scientific Research, which has benefited around 300,000 citizens over the past three years.

The partnership underscores Orange Egypt’s commitment to sustainable development and highlights a collaborative model between government, the private sector, and civil society to support national digital transformation goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on good health and well-being.