Omar Hekal
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Omar Heikal | |
|---|---|
 Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi honors Major General Dr. Omar Heikal | |
| Native name | عمر هيكل |
| Born | c. 1950s Kafr El-Zayyat, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt |
| Allegiance | Egypt |
| Branch | Egyptian Armed Forces |
| Rank | Major General (Medical) |
| Commands | President of the Egyptian Military Medical Academy (2006–2012) |
| Awards | Order of the Republic (Second Class); Medal of Exemplary Conduct; Ideal Physician Award |
| Alma mater | Ain Shams University (M.B.B.Ch, 1971; M.Sc. Gastroenterology, 1979; Ph.D. Hepatology, 1988) |
Omar Heikal is an Egyptian military physician and hepatologist who served as President of the Egyptian Military Medical Academy from July 2006 until August 2012.[1] He was a leading member of the National Committee for Combating Viral Hepatitis and successfully led the campaign to eradicate hepatitis C in Egypt. He earned his M.B.B.Ch. from Ain Shams University in 1971, an M.Sc. in Gastroenterology (first in class) in 1979, and a Ph.D. in Hepatology in 1988, and completed a fellowship at the Royal Free Hospital, University College London, under Prof Sheila Sherlock.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Omar Heikal was born in the 1950s in Kafr El-Zayyat, Gharbia Governorate, into a family of engineers and educators.[3] He graduated with an M.B.B.Ch. from Ain Shams University School of Medicine in 1971, followed by an M.Sc. in Gastroenterology (first in class) in 1979 and a Ph.D. in Hepatology in 1988, both from Ain Shams University.[4]
Military and academic career
[edit]Upon graduation, Heikal joined the Egyptian Armed Forces Medical Services, serving at Maadi, Qubra and Gamra military hospitals.[4] In July 2006, he was appointed President of the Egyptian Military Medical Academy, a post he held until August 2012.[5] Under his leadership, the Academy’s research output increased substantially and international collaborations were forged, notably hosting the Third International Military Medical Conference in November 2008.[5]
Role in hepatitis C elimination
[edit]Egypt launched its national hepatitis C elimination program “100 Million Healthy Lives” aimed at mass screening and treatment.[6] Major General Heikal served on the National Committee for Control of Viral Hepatitis, negotiating procurement of direct-acting antivirals at discounts up to 1/1000 of U.S. prices and facilitating local generic production.[7] By 2018, over 4 million Egyptians had received a full three-month course of sofosbuvir-based therapy at a subsidized cost of EGP 1,400, reducing prevalence from approximately 14% to under 1% by 2021.[8][9]
Collaborative leadership
[edit]Heikal’s efforts were coordinated with senior officers of the Military Medical Academy, including Major General Ghada Salah El-Manbawi, Major General Hisham Abdul Raouf, Major General Ahmed Fawzy Tawdi, and Major General Amin Fouad Shaker, who oversaw regional treatment centers, public-awareness campaigns, and the deployment of mobile screening units.[10]
Later career
[edit]After leaving the academy, Heikal established a private gastroenterology and hepatology practice, where he continues to see patients.[11] He also holds guest-lecturer status in Internal Medicine at Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine.[4]
Honors and awards
[edit]- Order of the Republic (Second Class) for outstanding service in public health[3]
- Medal of Exemplary Conduct, Egyptian Armed Forces [citation needed]
- Ideal Physician Award, Egyptian Medical Syndicate [citation needed]
Personal life
[edit]Heikal is married to Professor Omima Mohamed Hassan, Professor of Pharmacology at Ain Shams University; they have two daughters.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "MMA Presidents". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Hepatitis C Elimination in Egypt: Story of Success". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ a b "البروفيسور اللواء دكتور / عمر هيكل ..القيمة والقامة وقائد الطب العسكري". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ a b c d "Prof. Dr. Omar Heikal, M.Sc., M.D., Gastroenterologist". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ a b "Major General Omar Heikal Appointed President of MMA". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Towards hepatitis C virus elimination: Egyptian experience". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Egypt's Ambitious Strategy to Eliminate Hepatitis C Virus". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "National treatment programme of hepatitis C in Egypt". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Progress Toward Prevention and Control of Hepatitis C Virus Infection—Egypt, 2001–2012". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Fighting Hepatitis C in Egypt". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Dr Omar Heikal, Gastroenterologist, Dokki, Giza". Retrieved 2025-07-01.