New health insurance law’s 1st phase promotes medical investments

CAIRO – 23 October 2018: The mechanisms set by the Ministry of Health to apply the first phase of the comprehensive Health Insurance Law promoted investment in the health sector across Egypt, as many hospitals have been built and private sector is allowed to participate in investments.

Head of the Central Administration for Free Treatment and Licenses, Ali Mahrous, said that Minister of Health Hala Zayed works on upgrading medical services, upon the instructions of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to implement the first phase of the new Health Insurance Law in Port Said.

He added that investors have been allowed since the beginning of the year to establish 37 hospitals, 33 dialysis centers, and 52 banks have been given license to construct physiotherapy clinics and 14 dental laboratories.

He referred that 17 licenses were granted to construct heart valve centers and 34 health clubs and fitness centers, in addition to allowing 24 foreign experts in different fields to work in Egypt’s medical centers.

In this regard, 62 medical centers across Egypt were closed for violating the licensing conditions.

As for the Parliament, he pointed out that the government-drafted amendments to the medical profession law are being discussed to pave the way for the new health insurance system, stressing that the license to practice the medical profession will be renewed every 5 years to raise doctors' efficiency.

He concluded that the Central Administration for Free Treatment and Licenses paid several visits to governorates, ensuring regular medical services are provided in the private medical centers and hospitals.

The Ministry of Health will establish new bodies under the new health law; a health care authority will be responsible for the health services provided to citizens, a directory will be concerned with the collection of subscriptions from citizens in order to finance the system, and there will also be a quality and validation authority to accredit the qualified hospitals and health units.

According to the new Health Insurance Law, Article 52 specifies that the bodies established under this law shall have an independent budget and shall begin their financial year at the beginning of the fiscal year of the state and shall end by the end of each fiscal year.

Port Said will be one of the first governorates where the new health insurance system will be applied, starting from 2018 gradually until 2032, according to former Minister of Health Ahmed Emad.

About 800,000 citizens will benefit from this new system in Port Said, and they will need 40 health units, according to the Ministry of Health’s plan to implement the new insurance system.

Citizens of Port Said are expected to receive their new health insurance cards in the upcoming days. An online website will guide the citizens through the procedures required in order to receive their cards.

In the same context, Deputy Chairman of the Health Committee Mustafa Abu Zaid said that Port Said was chosen as it is less populated and has a qualified infrastructure, explaining that Gharbia governorate poses a great challenge to implementing the law as its health institutions need full rehabilitation.