AI in Healthcare: Egypt Rolls Out First Breast Cancer Detection Platform in Middle East

Egypt has unveiled the first fully homegrown system in the Middle East for the early detection of breast cancer using artificial intelligence (AI). The breakthrough initiative was officially launched at Baheya Hospital in Sheikh Zayed by Minister of Communications and Information Technology,  Dr. Amr Talaat, in collaboration with the Ministry’s Applied Innovation Center and the Baheya Foundation.

The AI-powered system is designed to analyze mammogram images and provide accurate preliminary diagnoses, significantly improving the efficiency of routine screenings, reducing treatment costs, and increasing recovery rates. Developed entirely by Egyptian engineers and data scientists, the system has achieved an accuracy rate of around 90 percent. It has already been deployed at Baheya’s hospitals in Haram and Sheikh Zayed this month.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Talaat described the initiative as “a milestone in harnessing artificial intelligence to serve healthcare,” emphasizing its importance in safeguarding women’s health as the foundation of society. He noted that the project represents a first step in long-term cooperation between the Applied Innovation Center and Baheya Hospital, highlighting its potential to expand further and benefit more women across Egypt.

The system was developed with multidisciplinary collaboration, bringing together radiologists, oncologists, data scientists, and software engineers. It includes a comprehensive Egyptian database of more than 60,000 mammogram images classified by type, location, density, and diagnostic confidence. The system can identify and classify abnormal growths as benign or malignant while continuously improving through feedback from medical results.

Eng. Tamer Shawky, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Baheya Foundation, praised the partnership, saying the project will “facilitate early detection and help safeguard the health of thousands of women nationwide.” He expressed pride in Baheya being chosen as the pioneer institution for deploying such cutting-edge technology.

Dr. Ahmed Tantawy, supervisor of the Applied Innovation Center, added that the AI engine was locally developed and trained on high-quality Egyptian medical data, making it more accurate and relevant compared to foreign solutions. He also confirmed that the system has been fully integrated into Baheya’s technical infrastructure to support seamless daily operations.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology reaffirmed its commitment to advancing AI-driven healthcare solutions as part of Egypt’s broader digital transformation agenda, with plans to further refine and expand the system in the coming years.