Emergency Medicine in Egypt

Abstract

Background: Egypt plays a pivotal role in North Africa and the Middle East, and has the largest population of any Arab country and serves as a regional cultural hub. Emergency medicine as a field of study was first initiated at Alexandria University in 1978, but it was only formally recognized as a medical specialty in 2002. Since then, the prehospital system and practice of emergency medicine has evolved and grown.

Objectives: This article will outline the development of emergency medicine in Egypt, including infrastructure, education, specialty certification, and future challenges, including those which are common to other specialties in development, and also those which are unique to Egypt.

Discussion: Opportunities remain with respect to the development of emergency medicine in Egypt, most notably in a continuing 'brain drain' of physicians who leave the country after receiving training, supervision, and oversight of residency programs, and general public and professional awareness of this new specialty.

Conclusion: Egypt has made great strides with respect to the delivery of emergency services, physician education and certification within the specialty of emergency medicine. Learning about these developments in Egypt will provide the reader with a compelling example of how an emergency system is developed in an advancing national setting.

Keywords: Egypt; emergency medicine; global health; global medicine; international health.