Patients will have the choice to continue treatment in Cairo branch or in Tanta branch under the administration of Tanta University
This decision was taken during the meeting held recently and headed by Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, to study the problems that face the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt, CCHE 57357, Tanta branch, in attendance of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghafar, Minister of Health and Population and Dr. Mohamed Eltayeb, Assistant Minister of Health for governance and technical affairs and management of CCHE 57357. Currently, Tanta branch’s hand over mechanism is under planning, to be managed and operated by the University of Tanta. Rumors regarding the closure of Tanta branch are not true, its management will be transferred to Tanta University and patients will be free to choose to continue treatment in Cairo branch or in Tanta under the management of Tanta University. Tanta branch includes 47 beds and it serves the Delta area. Due to the economic crisis the world is going through and the financial commitments of Tanta branch estimated at 130 million Egyptian pounds, it was suggested to transfer the management and operation of Tanta branch to the University of Tanta.
Hospital 57357 started with 180 beds, to reach a present capacity of 345 beds, and offering a superior quality level of care no matter what the patient’s treatment will cost. The Hospital is committed to follow up on more than 35 thousand patients, and it is recording an average survival rate of 71.4%.
Tanta branch was inaugurated in 2015, to offer the same standard of medical services provided at the main Hospital in Cairo. Tanta branch started with 43 inpatient beds and 4 intensive care beds, besides an OR unit including two rooms for minor surgeries in addition to outpatient clinics and a daycare that comprises 20 chairs.
Statistics revealed that, patient treatment cost in Tanta branch is 30 to 45% more than it in Cairo branch. To achieve a maximum cost effective operation economically, the management agreed to increase the capacity of Tanta branch to 95 beds. Expansion work started in February 2020, yet the contracting company has not yet completed 40% of the required work. Moreover, because of the limited infrastructure of Tanta Hospital, the main branch in Cairo was relied upon to provide some medical services that do not exist in Tanta branch such as major tumor surgeries (Orthopedic Prosthetics, liver tumor removal, etc.), radiotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, tissue analysis and genetic tests.
In fact, the hardest thing about strategic choices is that it’s about choosing between two good choices, as choosing between right and wrong is self-evident and not strategic. Since the launch of operations of Hospital 57357 more than 15 years ago, the dream was to have the largest Hospital worldwide for treating children with cancer, and the dream was realized. The 57357 vision went beyond the mere provision of quality medical service to redefining excellence and working towards achieving a cancer free childhood. When 57357 reviewed its strategy more than 8 years ago, we were confronted with the difficult choice between (bigger or better). Shall we direct resources to add new beds or to provide a better service, more comprehensive care, more research and more efficient work teams? A long list of choices and all are right ones. Today, under the very harsh economic conditions, at 57357, we have to reconsider our strategy for the third time, rationalize our expenses and redirect our resources which are getting limited day after day. As such, the choice becomes, unfortunately, between (smaller or worse). Would 57357 give up its quality standards and treatment protocols for keeping a bigger number of beds in return? Added to this, a long list of difficult decisions that we have to take. Without hesitation the answer was that 57357 will not give up its vision, and will pursue providing its top quality services and constantly and earnestly improve them, even if our resources would only enable us to serve one bed.
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