The Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH) brings together medical students from all over the world to learn, build skills, cooperate, explore and share ideas when it comes to addressing all issues related to public health, including global health issues, health policies, health promotion and education activities. The Standing Committee on Students’ Health (SCOSH) was formed by IFMSA members in 1952, driven by a strong will to take an active part in preventing and making policies concerning health problems. During the following years, the wide variety of activities led to the change of SCOSH to the Standing Committee on Health (SCOH) in 1963. In 1983 the name of the Committee changed once more to the Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH). Ever since we started, SCOPHeroes all over Egypt have implemented a wide variety of community-based public health activities on a local, national and international level.

Vision

Medical Students attain the optimal skills and knowledge to contribute to their full potential towards the making of healthier communities in their capacity as medical students and as future healthcare providers.

Mission

The Standing Committee on Public Health promotes the development of medical students worldwide regarding Public Health issues through an international sharing knowledge network, projects management, community-based learning, capacity building, advocacy, exchanges placements and access to external learning opportunities.

Focus Areas & Projects

Bridging gaps in Health (BGH)

Bridging Gaps in Health (BGH) is a Focus Area dedicated to promoting innovation in healthcare advocacy. It addresses existing gaps within the healthcare system by raising awareness and supporting initiatives that actively work to close these disparities.

BGH aims to sustain and encourage advocacy efforts by medical students across Egypt, offering a broad and inclusive platform for their contributions. While it welcomes diverse efforts, it particularly highlights key issues that are crucial for future healthcare professionals such as climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and universal health coverage.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) represent a key Focus Area that aligns closely with the core mission of our Standing Committee on Public Health. Our ultimate goal is to promote community health by preventing the most prevalent diseases in our society through innovative, holistic, and more impactful approaches.

NCDs are among the most serious health threats in Egypt and many other countries. While many medical students are familiar with NCDs and their treatment, fewer truly understand their broad impact on public health and global well-being.

As future healthcare professionals, it is our duty to raise awareness among the public about these issues and the importance of prevention. But before we can do that effectively, we must first learn how to communicate these messages in a way that empowers future doctors to lead healthier communities.

Mental Health

The Mental Health Project is dedicated to addressing mental health issues within the wider community. We focus on topics such as depression, anxiety, OCD, and burnout aiming to educate the public and advocate for better understanding. Our mission is to raise awareness of the many mental health challenges present in society today and to dispel the misconceptions and stigmas that often surround these conditions.

In addition to spreading knowledge about specific disorders, we also tackle broader issues where mental health plays a significant role. For instance, we take part in Movember, an initiative that sheds light on the struggles men face, including those related to their mental well-being.

Furthermore, we strive to contribute to national conversations by introducing perspectives on mental health that are often overlooked.