Egypt to launch EGTAP.com online platform to train tourism workforce: minister    Singapore's economy grows in Q2 '25    Gold prices dip slightly on Monday trading    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    EU prepared to retaliate with €21b tariff package – Italy's FM    Al-Sisi reaffirms Egypt's commitment to African security, development at AU Mid-Year Summit    Dozens of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire near Gaza aid site    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Egypt's Contact insurance arms, Germany's GIZ partner on SMEs, gender equity    Egypt and Italy mark 50 years of science partnership, discuss future cooperation    Egypt establishes Real Estate Market Regulation Unit to oversee sector transparency    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Egypt, Mexico discuss environmental cooperation, combating desertification    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt's EDA, Haleon discuss local market support    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Health insurance gains momentum
Published in Ahram Online on 23 - 02 - 2021

The first seven surgical operations in Ismailia governorate under the umbrella of the new Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system, from a cesarean delivery to treating a fractured thigh bone, have taken place at the Ismailia Medical Complex.
The first phase of the healthcare scheme is being implemented in Ismailia, Port Said, Suez, South Sinai, Luxor, and Aswan governorates. Initially planned to cover the whole of Egypt by 2032, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi announced last week that every effort is being exerted to complete the nationwide rollout in 10, rather than 15, years.
The new system was inaugurated in Ismailia on 16 February and will eventually offer 2,300 medical procedures to the governorate's citizens. Medical services will be provided through 12 hospitals, 20 health centres, and 34 health units. Ahmed Al-Sobki, head of the General Organisation for Comprehensive Health Insurance, told Al-Ahram Weekly the medical services package provided by the new health insurance system will cover surgery, analysis, radiology, tumor treatment, organ transplants, prosthetic devices, visual and audio aids, dental treatment, therapeutic foods and other supplements, using the latest treatments and internationally approved medicines.
Al-Sobki says there is no ceiling for spending on medical services in the new system, and that it allows those who cannot be treated in Egypt to travel abroad for treatment at the government's expense.
Ismailia is the first governorate in the first phase rollout where the number of citizens registered in the system surpasses one million. According to Al-Sobki, 84 per cent of the governorate's 1,370,806 citizens have so far registered.
Hospitals operating under the health insurance umbrella have been upgraded to meet the UHI's system control and quality standards.
Khaled Megahed, official spokesman at the Ministry of Health and Population, said the cost of implementing the new health insurance system in the four governorates of Port Said, Luxor, South Sinai, and Ismailia is estimated at LE23 billion, of which LE10 billion has been earmarked for improving the infrastructure, medical and non-medical equipment in Ismailia, LE9.6 billion to upgrade medical facilities in Luxor, and LE3.3 billion in South Sinai.
“The new UHI system will be applied in the remaining two governorates of the first phase, Aswan and Suez within the coming few months,” said Megahed. It was piloted in Port Said governorate in the summer of 2019 and has so far provided more than three million medical services to beneficiaries.
The program is expected to be rolled out in the rest of the governorates in the first phase this year.
In Luxor, where 67 per cent of the governorate's 1.27 million citizens have registered, medical services will be offered by seven hospitals, 59 health units and a family health centre. In South Sinai, 85 per cent of the governorate's 103,800 residents have registered in the new system.
In May 2021, the system will be launched in Aswan governorate at an estimated cost of LE12.3 billion, and is scheduled to launch in Suez in June 2021.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 February, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly


Clic here to read the story from its source.