Prof Dr Sameh El-Saharty Publications
Title of Publication: Health and the Economy: The Impact of Noncommunicable Diseases
Abstract: This book chapter analyzes the economic burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) on Egypt's human capital and productivity. Noting that the direct and indirect costs of NCDs reached up to 9.28% of Egypt's GDP in 2022, the authors advocate for comprehensive policies focused on primary and secondary prevention. The paper emphasizes targeting behavioral and environmental risk factors through population-based interventions and strengthening primary health care across both public and private sectors.
Journal/Source: The Oxford Handbook of the Egyptian Economy (Oxford University Press)
Date of Publication: 25 June 2026
Title of Publication: The potential health effects of taxing sugar-sweetened drinks in Egypt: An epidemiologic-economic modelling study
Abstract (summarized): This epidemiologic-economic modeling study investigates the potential impact of a 20% excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Egypt. Projecting the health of the Egyptian population over 25 years, the findings suggest that implementing this World Health Organization-recommended tax could prevent 350,000 cases of obesity, 250,000 cases of Type 2 Diabetes, and 56,000 cases of heart disease, yielding substantial long-term health improvements and healthcare savings.
Journal/Source: Public Health in Practice (Elsevier)
Date of Publication: 1 June 2026
Link:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535226000650
Title of Publication: Assessing Law No. 87 of 2024 on private sector management of public healthcare facilities in Egypt: neoliberal roots, potential consequences, and policy recommendations
Abstract (summarized): Following Egypt's enactment of Law No. 87 in March 2024—which permits private sector management of public healthcare facilities—this qualitative study critically analyzes the legislation's underlying drivers. Utilizing a political economy of health framework, a multi-level policy analysis, and expert roundtables, the research assesses the law's roots in domestic fiscal pressures and global neoliberal policies, while evaluating its anticipated implications for healthcare equity, access, and overall health system governance.
Journal/Source: BMC Health Services Research (BioMed Central)
Date of Publication: 2 April 2026
Link:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-026-14348-x