Mohamed Maait, Egypt's Minister of Finance and Chairperson of the General Authority for Comprehensive Health Insurance, said that efforts are being made to strengthen the partnership between the public and private medical sectors. This is with a view to ensure the success of the comprehensive health insurance system, through the serious pursuit of contracting with major hospitals and private health and medical centres across Egypt. This will take place once these hospitals and centres are approved by the General Authority for Control and Accreditation. In a statement on Monday, Maait added that there are also efforts underway to achieve integration between the comprehensive health insurance system, the medical insurance industry, and health care. This is to ensure the provision of various health services to the beneficiaries, with better quality. He stressed that the medical insurance sector is an authentic partner in efforts to provide health care under the umbrella of the comprehensive health insurance system. It allows the participation of all medical service providers from the private sector and others, whether hospitals, laboratories, radiology centres, or pharmacies, provided that the prescribed requirements are met and a licence is obtained. Hossam Sadek, Executive Director of the General Authority for Comprehensive Health Insurance, conducted a field tour at Al-Arabi Hospital in Menoufia. During the trip, Sadek was accompanied by Farid Al-Garhy, board member at Egypt's General Authority for Healthcare (GAH). The hospital was contracted to serve the beneficiaries of the comprehensive health insurance system, particularly due to the huge potential it provides that contributes to providing distinguished medical service to patients. The hospital can also perform major surgical procedures, especially organ transplants among other services. Sadek affirmed that the authority aims to contract with major hospitals to operate under the umbrella of the new system, to provide integrated and comprehensive health care for all family members. This will take place in a way that relieves them of health, psychological, and financial burdens as soon as they participate in this national project. It becomes particularly relevant when they need access to major surgical procedures, as the beneficiary citizen does not bear more than EGP 300 of the cost, with the rest covered by the system. Sadek said that the authority aims to provide distinguished health care to beneficiaries with more than 2,500 medical services covering all diseases. He noted that he is keen on field tours to follow up the performance of hospitals participating in the comprehensive health insurance system, and to ensure the quality of service and the satisfaction of citizens.
