Allocations for health sector in 2020/2021 investment plan hit LE 93.5B: minister

CAIRO - 17 June 2020: Planning and Economic Development Minister Hala el Saeed said that the general state budget for fiscal year 2020/2021 includes allocations hitting LE 93.5 billion for the health sector, with a 28 percent growth, compared to the 2019/2020 state budget.

This came in a report prepared by the Planning Ministry on the state’s approach to develop the health sector in the country amid the impact of the novel coronavirus crisis.

The planning minister said that the investment plan for 2020/2021 includes governmental investments amounting to about LE 21.1 billion to be directed to the health sector, representing 8 percent of the total governmental investments for this fiscal year.

Governmental investments allocated for the Health Ministry have been increased by 72 percent compared to the 2019/2020 plan to help the ministry implement many initiatives.

The report indicated that among these initiatives are implementing the comprehensive health insurance system, as part of which 79 hospitals and 294 primary healthcare units in nine governorates will be upgraded in addition to the national project to finalize six plasma collection centers and establish 8 new others to achieve self-sufficiency in plasma derived-products.

The report also highlighted an initiative to develop the emergency departments at hospitals through providing them with 3,146 ICU beds, 400 baby incubators and 449 childcare beds.

The sustainable development plan for fiscal year 2020/2021 included governmental investments hitting about LE 4 billion to help university hospitals implement many initiatives, topped by an initiative to mechanize all 113 hospitals.

The 2020/2021 fiscal year plan also includes many programs and projects related to efforts to combat COVID-19, topped by an initiative to develop medical laboratories at investments estimated at LE 81.6 million.

The report highlighted another initiative to upgrade the cardiothoracic surgery institute at investments hitting LE 24 million in addition to a project to develop the chest hospitals nationwide at investments amounting to LE 12.3 million.