The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population announced the launch of the second phase of specialized clinics dedicated to treating internet and electronic game misuse and addiction.
This step comes within the framework of the presidential initiative “Your Health is Happiness”, which aims to promote mental health and address emerging behavioral phenomena in society.
The official spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Health, Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, stated that the second phase includes the opening of four new hospitals: the Heliopolis Addiction Treatment Hospital in Cairo, the Banha Mental Health Hospital in Qalyubia, the Shebin El-Kom Mental Health Hospital in Menoufia, and the Sohag Mental Health Hospital in Sohag. With this expansion, the total number of government hospitals offering these specialized services rises to 10, distributed across various governorates, following the success of the first phase in hospitals in Abbassia, Khanka, Maamoura, Damira, Minya, and Assiut.
Abdelghaffar explained that these clinics not only provide treatment but also offer a comprehensive package that includes early diagnosis, assessment, and modern therapeutic and rehabilitative programs to address internet use disorders and their associated psychological problems. The programs also focus on family counseling and medical education to help families prevent and properly manage these cases, paving the way for the healthy reintegration of those undergoing treatment into society.
In the same context, Dr. Ayman Abbas, Head of the Central Administration of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, indicated that a free self-assessment tool is available through the National Electronic Platform for Mental Health. This tool allows citizens to take an initial test to determine their level of internet use, identify safe usage limits for each age group, and then refer them to treatment pathways and specialized clinics if needed.
For her part, Dr. Sally El-Nouby, Director General of Specialized Psychiatry and Director of the Initiative, reviewed the statistics of the first phase, which lasted two months and attracted 120 cases. The data showed that the youth and adolescent category was the most frequent, representing 60% of cases, while males represented 63% of the total cases compared to 37% for females. The unemployed segment accounted for the largest percentage of visitors, at 70%.
