Roche Diagnostics Supports Egypt’s Digital Pathology Expansion and AI Integration in Public Health

Roche Diagnostics is backing Egypt’s expansion of digital pathology and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into its public health system to enhance diagnostic speed and accuracy, particularly in underserved areas. The initiatives are being implemented in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Health and the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system, according to Liliane Kanaan, North Africa Lead and General Manager for Egypt at Roche Diagnostics.

Egypt is among the first African countries to adopt digital pathology at scale, which digitizes tissue samples for remote viewing and analysis. Kanaan explained, “By reducing diagnostic turnaround times and enabling telepathology, this innovation will improve both the speed and equity of care delivery.” The technology facilitates timely first opinions in remote communities, minimizing the need for patients to travel extensively. For complex cases, it allows rapid second opinions from national or international experts, significantly reducing travel burdens and expediting diagnosis and treatment planning.

Roche is also collaborating with national stakeholders to integrate AI-powered tools into diagnostic workflows by deploying digital pathology scanners and modernizing hospital laboratories. This addresses a critical skills shortage, especially the severe deficit of pathologists in Africa, where there is roughly one pathologist per million people, compared to one per 25,000 in countries like the US and UK.

Operating in Egypt for over 20 years, Roche has contributed to several national health programs. Kanaan cited their role in Egypt’s Hepatitis C elimination campaign, which helped the country earn WHO Golden Tier status. Other collaborations include supporting the national blood safety strategy with Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) at the National Blood Transfusion Center and providing over two million tests during the early COVID-19 pandemic.

Roche continues to support the Presidential Breast Cancer Initiative, which has screened over 30 million women since its 2019 launch, and has upgraded more than 26 public pathology laboratories, delivering over 20,000 breast cancer diagnostic panels critical for treatment planning. The company also participates in the national cervical cancer early detection campaign, screening over 20,000 women in partnership with the Ministry of Health and NGOs.

To tailor solutions to regional needs, Roche works closely with stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, UHI, military hospitals, academic institutions, and NGOs. Their approach goes beyond product sales to encompass capacity-building, lab software, and health consultancy services aligned with local infrastructure and regulations.