The Senate – Egypt's consultative upper house parliament – approved a new bill on Monday setting up a fund to be spent on emergency medical expenses.

A report by the Senate's Health and Population Committee said that the fund is designed to be spent on medical services not usually covered by the state budget.

"The Fund will be devoted to spending on patients receiving treatment at emergency and intensive care units; buying drugs and medicine, and providing health care services to citizens who are on waiting lists," said the report.

The Fund on Containing Medical Emergency Cases will be headquartered in Cairo and affiliated with the Prime Minister.

Article six states that a council of trustees will be formed to establish the Fund's general policies.

"The Council will also supervise the Fund's board of directors, issue the Fund's administrative and financial regulations, approve the Fund's budget and prepare an annual report on the Fund's performance to be submitted to the president of the republic," article six also says.