Beds in one of the healthcare units. Photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet.
The Health Ministry said the programme, in line with presidential directives to support citizens and reduce financial burdens, will be extended to 300 units by the end of 2026, as part of a broader shift to integrate treatment-at-state-expense services into primary care facilities rather than relying almost exclusively on hospitals.
Deputy Health Minister Amr Kandil said the newly introduced clinics have already issued thousands of treatment decisions, with a completion rate of 92 percent. He said the ministry is monitoring performance through field visits and patient feedback, with facilities required to submit regular reports.
Under the rollout plan, another 100 units are due to begin offering the service by the end of June, followed by a further 100 by December.
The expansion comes as Egypt seeks to decentralize healthcare delivery and reduce chronic overcrowding in public hospitals, which have long served as the main gateway for state-funded treatment. By shifting part of the system into primary care units, authorities aim to shorten waiting times and bring services closer to patients.
The policy is tied to Egypt’s ongoing rollout of its Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS), which places primary care at the centre of service delivery. Under the model, patients are expected to first seek care at local units before being referred to specialised or hospital services when needed.
State-funded treatment programmes remain a key safety net in Egypt, particularly for patients unable to afford high-cost procedures or long-term care. Expanding access through primary healthcare units is expected to widen coverage and reduce administrative delays, especially in underserved areas.
The UHIS, established under a 2018 law, adopts a population-based planning model, targeting one public-sector hospital bed per 1,000 citizens, while allowing regulated private-sector participation capped at 30–40 percent, subject to accreditation.
It is being implemented in phases.
A first phase launched in Port Said has since expanded to five other governorates, including Luxor, South Sinai, Suez, Aswan, and Ismailia.
A second phase is underway in five additional governorates, Minya, Matrouh, Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh, and North Sinai, supported by dozens of hospitals and hundreds of primary care units, many developed under the Haya Karima rural initiative.
Total public investment in the system has exceeded EGP 48 billion so far, with more than 6.2 million beneficiaries enrolled and over 250 million medical services delivered.
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