Ahmed El-Sobky, Head of the General Authority for Healthcare and General Supervisor of the Comprehensive Health Insurance and "Decent Life" projects at the Ministry of Health and Population, recently reviewed the performance of Egypt's medical tourism sector. During the second half of the financial year 2023/2024, Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital, affiliated with the authority in South Sinai, achieved the highest foreign currency revenues in medical tourism. Luxor and Aswan hospitals followed closely. During the meeting, El-Sobky reviewed the achievements in the medical tourism sector across various governorates implementing the comprehensive health insurance system during the second half of the current financial year 2023/2024, comparing them with previous years. The progress made in the "We Care for You in Egypt" project was also discussed, focusing on its impact on enhancing medical tourism and exploring future opportunities. Additionally, new strategies were discussed to improve health services and promote medical tourism, aligning with the authority's vision of achieving distinguished and sustainable healthcare and the highest levels of client satisfaction. The Head of the Healthcare Authority pointed out that Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital, affiliated with the authority in South Sinai, achieved the highest foreign currency revenues in the field of medical tourism during the second half of the current financial year 2023/2024, followed by hospitals in Luxor and Aswan. He confirmed the implementation of a comprehensive plan to boost medical tourism in the Canal Region cities. El-Sobky added that more than 7,000 patients from foreign countries were received for treatment at the internationally accredited hospitals affiliated with the Healthcare Authority in the governorates. This represents an increase of more than 70% in the second half of the current financial year 2023/2024 compared to the same period in the previous financial year 2022/2023, through the "We Care for You in Egypt" programme promoting medical tourism. He affirmed the improvement in medical tourism indicators in South Sinai, Luxor, and Aswan, leading to a more than 100% increase in foreign currency revenues in the second half of the current financial year 2023/2024 compared to the same period in the previous financial year 2022/2023. The number of international patients seeking treatment at the Healthcare Authority's facilities also increased. He added, "We aim to be one of the state's resources for foreign currency." El-Sobky directed the establishment of two comprehensive dental units at Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital in South Sinai and Karnak International Hospital in Luxor, along with the creation of a fully equipped ophthalmology operating room at Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital to enhance and expand medical tourism services. He explained that the Healthcare Authority now possesses practical guides for learning and knowledge transfer, as well as a database and communication network, which are fundamental parts of its marketing and attraction strategy to open new markets in the field of medical tourism and sustainability. The authority currently has eight hospital profile pages on social media and aims to launch a comprehensive online platform for the "We Care for You in Egypt" program, with promotional packages, multilingual portals, and an electronic application for the online sale of services to boost medical tourism. El-Sobky emphasized that the Healthcare Authority's facilities boast advanced infrastructure, high-quality hotel services, medical expertise, and modern technologies, offering comprehensive healthcare services to international patients at competitive prices comparable to global medical centres. He affirmed the continued efforts to enhance medical tourism through forming partnerships with medical insurance companies and medical brokers, participating in scientific conferences, hosting experts from around the world, broadcasting precise surgeries, and promoting medical services. He concluded: "We aspire for our healthcare facilities to become the top destination for patients from all Arab, African, and international countries, providing treatment and achieving the best possible returns from medical tourism, maximizing the authority's resources and investments, benefiting citizens, and achieving the goals of Egypt Vision 2030."
