While in Cairo, Health Minister Ephraim Sneh signed for Israel a health cooperation agreement with Egypt. It was hoped that this would pave the way for closer ties between Israeli and Egyptian physicians, something the Egyptian Medical Association for years shied away from. This did not deter hundreds of Egyptians from seeking medical help in Israeli hospitals. Israel wanted to formalize health ties in an agreement. Text of the Health Ministry statement follows:
In Cairo on an official visit, Health Minister Ephraim Sneh last Wednesday, 19.4.95, signed a health cooperation agreement - the first of its kind - with his Egyptian counterpart, Dr. Ali Abdel Fatah. The agreement includes cooperation in the areas of information and research, as well as exchanges of experts. The agreement is considered a breakthrough, since the Egyptian Medical Association has, for years, refused to cooperate in any way with Israeli institutions and professionals.
During his visit, Dr. Sneh met with officials from the Egyptian Health Ministry and the National Authority for Pharmacological Research and Oversight and opened an international pharmacological conference, which was attended by both the Egyptian health and science ministers.
While in Cairo, Dr. Sneh also visited Al-Haram Hospital, to which he donated two Israeli-made incubators.