Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday stated that shortcomings within the state-based medical treatment system must be corrected, stressing the importance of the new medical insurance system to his people. During a meeting with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Health Minister Hala Zayed, Communications and Information Technology Minister Amr Talaat, Finance Minister Mohamed Maeit, head of General Intelligence Abbas Kamel, and Chairman of the Administrative Control Authority Mohamed Erfan, Sisi discussed establishing and equipping model hospitals capital cities for all governorates so citizens will not have to travel in search for treatment in other governorates away from their homes. In another meeting with ministers last week, Sisi also focused on the development of the medical sector to achieve a qualitative leap in the level of medical care provided to citizens. He instructed conducting medical tests on citizens to detect Hepatitis C and to provide treatment for those who have the disease. Sisi also instructed the launch of a project to improve the working environment for medical staff in state-owned hospitals in cooperation with civil society organisations and local councils. Zayed said during the meeting last week she aimed to achieve rapid and tangible improvement, primarily within the comprehensive social medical insurance system and the national model hospital project. She added 29 hospitals have been selected to become model hospitals in all governorates. Source: Al-Masry Al-Youm
