State-covered treatment codes increase from LE 4B to LE 7.6B

CAIRO - 17 August 2017: The budget of 15 state-covered treatment function codes will increase from LE 4 billion ($225 million) to LE 7.6 billion ($427 million), to ease financial burdens for poor patients, stressed the Minister of Health Ahmed Emad el-Din on Thursday.

Treatment codes were affected greatly after the floatation of the Egyptian currency as they could not cover treatment charges, making hospitals charge additional fees on treatments. Consequently, this has imposed financial burdens on patients who are unable to pay hospitals bills.

The state-covered treatment budget will rise in the state budget as the liberalization of the exchange rate causes changes in prices of medical supplies, said Chairman of the Specialized Medical Councils of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Imad Kazim, adding that treatment codes of chronic diseases and life saving operations have risen.

The Ministry of Health will update all the state-covered treatment codes, said the Chairman of Secretariat for Specialized Medical Centers, Ayman Abdel Aziz.