Luxor's comprehensive health insurance scheme gearing for 1 July launch

First phase covers Luxor, Ismailia, Aswan, Suez, and South Sinai governorates over next 2 years

Mohamed Maait, Egypt's Minister of Finance and Chairperson of the General Authority for Comprehensive Health Insurance, has confirmed that the final touches are being put to Luxor's comprehensive health insurance system.
This step is in preparation for the system's official launch on 1 July, and comes as part of the state's plan to extend the new system to the rest of the governorates in the first phase.
The first phase covers the governorates of Luxor, Ismailia, Aswan, Suez, and South Sinai, and will take place over the next two years. This is in line with directives issued by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, to shorten the timetable to introduce comprehensive health insurance in all governorates in 10 years, instead of 15.
Maait added that the private sector is partnering to provide health and medical care services under the umbrella of comprehensive health insurance. This reflects the state's keenness to maximise the partnership with the private sector in various development fields.
Hossam Sadek, Executive Director of the General Authority for Comprehensive Health Insurance, conducted a field tour of the Comprehensive Health Insurance branch in Luxor.
The tour aimed to check on the final preparations for the official opening.
Sadek noted the importance of bringing together all sincere national efforts to make this national project a success to serve people in southern Upper Egypt. This step will spare them the hardship of travelling to Cairo to receive treatment, and the financial and psychological burdens resulting from illness.
During the tour, he visited the Luxor Comprehensive Clinic, the headquarters of the General and Sub-Medical Committee, the Horus Student Clinic, and the Karnak International Hospital.
The visit took place to ensure their readiness, which paves the way for the official launch of the comprehensive health insurance system on the scheduled date.
The facilities aim to provide a distinguished medical service to beneficiaries, and are directed at facilitating procedures for receiving health care services under the comprehensive health insurance system. This is with full commitment to the preventive measures established to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Sadek added that the Shifa Al-Orman Hospital for Oncology, which was contracted after being approved by the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation, provides medical services to beneficiaries of the comprehensive health insurance system.
"We welcome medical and treatment institutions from the private sector joining, to provide their services to beneficiaries of the comprehensive health insurance system, in line with our strategy," he said.
Sadek added that this system allows citizens to choose to receive treatment in any accredited public or private institution. He explained that there are 59 units and health centres, in addition to 7 hospitals so far, which provide comprehensive health insurance services in Luxor.