CAIRO: Healthcare costs for Egyptian families are on the rise, says a new study from the Central Organization for Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). According to the study, healthcare costs account for 6.4 percent of the average Egyptian family's budget, with about 481.80 Egyptian pounds (US $81) spent annually. These figures represent a 7 percent proportional increase for families in urban areas, and a 5.6 percent proportional increase for those in rural areas. Figures for the study were based on 2008-2009 consumption and expenditure data. Healthcare ranked the third most costly budget item for Egyptian families, with food and housing costs ranking first and second respectively. The study also claimed that the proportion a family spends on healthcare is directly related to the education achieved by the head of the household. The highest healthcare expenditure per household budget was 13.7 percent, associated with an unemployed head of household. The lowest was 4.4 percent, according to the study. BM
