The Announcement of the Winners of the Saudi German Health «Caring Like Family» Awards

Saudi German Health, the leading healthcare provider in the Middle East and North Africa, announced the winners of the second edition of the Saudi German Health Awards for 2023. The awards ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Nile Plaza -Nile Corniche under the patronage of the Ministries of Health and Population, Social Solidarity, Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the National Academy for Training.

The event was attended by dignitaries from the healthcare sector, including Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population; Professor Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Dr. Rasha Ragheb, Dr. Rasha Ragab, the Executive Director of the National Academy for Training and Chairperson of the Award Judging Committee. Key figures from the healthcare sector in Egypt and the region were also present, including Dr. Mohamed Hablas, Regional Director of the Saudi German Health Group for Egypt and North Africa, and several members of the group’s senior management.

Dr. Rasha Ragheb, the Executive Director of the National Academy for Training and Chairperson of the Award Judging Committee, extended her sincere greetings and appreciation to the attendees. She praised the activities and contributions of the Saudi German Hospital in the healthcare sector, emphasizing that the academy is committed to supporting creative capacities and investing in the human element, which contributes to creating successful leadership models that help drive progress in Egypt. This aligns with the essence of the Saudi German Health Award, for which we are announcing the winners today. Ragab expressed her hopes that the selected projects would contribute to enhancing the efficiency of the healthcare sector in Egypt, providing better service to Egyptian citizens, by the policy of the Egyptian state under the new republic.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Hablas, Regional Director of the Saudi German Health Group for Egypt and North Africa, stated: ‘The healthcare sector in Egypt has witnessed a quantum leap and significant developments in recent years. Improving healthcare quality is one of the top priorities of the political leadership in Egypt. It is also a main goal of Egypt’s Vision 2030, which stipulates the necessity for every Egyptian to enjoy the right to a healthy and safe life through an integrated healthcare system without any discrimination. In line with this fair and ambitious vision, the government, in collaboration with the private sector, has launched many wide-ranging healthcare initiatives under the auspices of the President, to enhance the efficiency and quality of healthcare services provided to citizens. This has led to an unprecedented breakthrough in the health ecosystem, with one of its most important outcomes being the launch of the Comprehensive Health Insurance System, which currently covers five governorates. Additionally, the great success achieved by presidential initiatives to care for women’s, children’s, and Egyptian citizens’ health, such as the 100 Million Health Campaign, the presidential initiative for women’s health, the presidential initiative to end surgeries’ waiting lists, the campaign to combat non-communicable diseases, and others, have been pivotal. As Saudi German Health, represented by the Saudi German Hospital in Cairo, believes in the capabilities of the Egyptian healthcare system, we have decided to launch these awards for the second consecutive year to honor the exemplary models in the Egyptian medical sector. This is based on our appreciation for the efforts of all workers in all hospitals in Egypt for their pivotal and exceptional role in caring for the health of Egyptians. Today, we announce the names of the winners of these awards, with a total value of two million pounds, fulfilling our promise to increase the number of categories and the value of the awards presented, which we are already fulfilling today”

The Saudi German Health Awards for 2024 include five main categories:

* The Saudi German Award for the Best Project in Achieving Sustainability and Green Hospitals, which includes three levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze with prize values of EGP 250,000, EGP 150,000, and EGP 100,000 respectively, in addition to award trophies for the winners of the three awards.

* The Saudi German Health Award for the Best Project in Achieving Cost Efficiency, which includes three levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze with prize values of EGP 250,000, EGP 150,000, and EGP 100,000 respectively, in addition to award trophies for the winners of the three awards.

* The Saudi German Health Award for the Best Project in Improving the Quality of Healthcare Services and Patient Safety, which includes three levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze with prize values of EGP 250,000, EGP 150,000, and EGP 100,000 respectively, in addition to award trophies for the winners of the three awards.

* The Saudi German Health Award for the Best Project in Enhancing Patient Experience, which includes three levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze with prize values of EGP 250,000, EGP 150,000, and EGP 100,000 respectively, in addition to award trophies for the winners of the three awards.

* The Battarjee Medical Award for Influential Figures in Providing Healthcare Service, an honorary award given to individuals who have made a tangible impact in supporting community health.

All hospitals operating in Egypt were allowed to participate in these awards, with a dedicated website provided to explain the application criteria and receive nominations from all Egyptian governorates. Indeed, the submissions included numerous valuable experiences deserving of recognition and celebration, as their creators demonstrated their ability for innovation in the healthcare sector and showcased future-ready staff capable of making a difference in the level of healthcare services provided.

The winners were selected and evaluated by an external jury committee comprising a group of experts and specialists in various fields. The committee was chaired by Dr. Rasha Ragab, CEO of the National Academy for Training, and included the following members: Dr. Osama Muslim – International Healthcare Consultant, Dr. Rania Elwani – Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Former Member of the Egyptian Parliament, Prof. Ali El Anwar – Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University and Chairman of the Board of Directors of University Hospitals, Professor of Oncologic Surgery and Laparoscopy at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Ms. Lamis Najm – Former Social Responsibility Advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, Dr. Mohamed Hassani – Assistant Minister of Health and Population for Public Health Initiatives, Engineer Mohamed Abdel Karim – CEO of the Industrial Modernization Centre, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dr. Hoda Zaki – Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the Modern University of Technology and Information, MTI, and Dr. Walid El Anwar – Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of University Hospitals.

The awards for the Best Project in Enhancing Patient Experience were granted to the following: the Disabled Dentistry Unit project at Al-Mansoura International Hospital, affiliated with the General Secretariat of Specialized Medical Centers (Gold level); the Digital Transformation Development project for the Medical Services System at the Mansoura Ophthalmology Center, affiliated with the University Hospitals – Mansoura University (Silver level); the first specialized Diabetes Center project at Al-Ahrar Educational Hospital, affiliated with the Hospitals and Educational Institutes – Ministry of Health and Population (Bronze level); in addition to the Excellent Participation Award, which was awarded to the Stroke Thrombolysis Unit project at Kafr El-Dawar General Hospital, affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Population.

The following projects were recognized in the category of the Best Project in Improving the Quality of Healthcare Services and Patient Safety: the establishment of Clinical Research Departments in all Authority Hospitals at the Students’ Referential Hospital in Sporting, Alexandria, affiliated with the General Authority for Health Insurance in Alexandria (Gold level); the Medication Reconciliation project at Ain Shams University Surgery Hospital, affiliated with the University Hospitals – Ain Shams University in Cairo (Silver level); the establishment of an Intravenous Medication Preparation Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Ain Shams University, affiliated with the University Hospitals – Ain Shams University in Cairo (Bronze level); in addition to the Excellent Participation Award, which was achieved by the establishment of a Medium Care Unit for Children to reduce cases of clinical deterioration at the Pediatric Department of Bani Sweif Specialized Hospital, affiliated with the General Secretariat of Specialized Medical Centers in Bani Sweif Governorate.

For the Best Project in Achieving Cost Efficiency, the winning projects are as follows: the Optimal Use of Antibiotics project at Mansoura Health Insurance Hospital, affiliated with the General Authority for Health Insurance in Dakahlia Governorate, which won the Gold Level Award. The project to reduce wasted intravenous medications at the 15th of May Specialized Hospital, affiliated with the General Secretariat of Specialized Medical Centers in Cairo Governorate, won the Silver Level Award. The Safe Savings project at Ismailia Medical Complex, affiliated with the General Authority for Health Care in Ismailia Governorate, won the Bronze Level Award. In addition, the Outstanding Participation Award went to the project evaluating the relationship between the dental caries index (DMFT) and hemoglobin levels among primary school children suffering from iron deficiency anemia at the Sporting Referential Students Hospital, affiliated with the General Authority for Health Insurance in Alexandria Governorate.

In the category of the Best Project in Achieving Sustainability and Green Hospitals, the awards went to the Green Transformation and Sustainability project at Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital, affiliated with the General Authority for Health Care in South Sinai Governorate, which won the Gold Level Award, jointly with the Shifa Orman Hospital for Cancer Treatment in Luxor, affiliated with non-profit hospitals in Luxor Governorate, for the “Sustainable Green Hospital” project.

Professor Dr. Mamdouh Salama, Professor of Neurosurgery at Ain Shams University and former Head of the Neurosurgery Department at Ain Shams University, won the second edition of the Battarjee Medical Award for Influential Figures in Providing Healthcare Service for the year 2023.

After the awards ceremony, Dr. Hablas said, “I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to our esteemed guests who honored us with their presence today, foremost among them His Excellency the Minister of Health and Population, and senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the healthcare sector in Egypt. I also express my gratitude to the members of the judging committee who selected the best candidates to win awards this year, and I thank everyone who contributed to the success of this event in the distinguished manner we witnessed today.”