Dar El Oyoun Eye Hospitals (DEO) and Saarland University developed a model for international public private partnership between a public university hospital in Germany and a private hospital in Egypt. The model was based on mutual benefits of both parties and efficient management of available resources. The lines of cooperation included exchange of visits, experience, joint research, seminars and training programs. Both parties focused on synergies to build on their strengths. The Egyptian private hospital opened branches in a poor area in Cairo and two governorates in Upper Egypt 1000 km from Cairo to improve accessibility to the services. In addition to that, an efficient entrepreneurial poverty alleviation system was mutually created between the DEO, Rotary Club Giza, Standard Charter Bank and Oyoun EL Wadi Associaion to support the treatment of poor patients who cannot afford the service. The system also offered training to nurses and ophthalmologists from public hospitals from all over Egypt. The international PPP model positively affected the quality of services provided in both hospitals. Over the last 18 months, this agreement resulted in one clinician from each country being trained in the other country, two Egyptian-German meetings in Egypt and one in Germany, accreditation process for the training programs offered in Egypt, two joint research projects, accreditation process of the private hospital in Egypt to reach German standards, e-consultation system between both countries and regular expert-visits. A center of excellence is being founded in Cairo, as well as other branches to cover other areas in Egypt. The mutual poverty alleviation system supported examination of around 35,000 patients from all over Egypt. It offered subsidized treatment for around 20,000 and surgeries for 250. Parallel to that, there was training programs for doctors and nurses from the private hospital as well as other public hospitals in Egypt and the region.
This story represents a success story for SMEs and proves the role responsible business can achieve when the companies focus on their core business.
