The health ministry has issued 58,000 health certificates to would-be-spouses who underwent the examinations since the start of the initiative, the statement added.

A QR-code-secure health certificate issued by one of 303 public health clinics designated to administer pre-marriage medical examinations is a requirement for each of the two would-be-spouses to finalise marriage procedures.

Results of examinations are confidential and do not prevent a marriage from being finalised.

Pre-marriage general medical examinations for would-be spouses have been mandatory since 2008.

Last month, upon instructions from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the scope of pre-marriage medical examinations were expanded to include testing for HIV and other infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, AIDS,, thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

President El-Sisi has stressed that mandating pre-marriage medical examinations comes as part of the duty of the state to reassure parents of would-be couples and the couples themselves on health issues that affect not only those seeking marriage but future generations as well.

Pre-marriage medical examinations are subsidised by the government and cost EGP 220, down from actual cost of EGP 450 to EGP 500. 

All certificates are valid for six months.

Examinations must be taken at least 14 days before marriage to allow time for processing.

Non-Egyptian residents who seek marriage in Egypt are also required to obtain a certificate.

Anyone seeking to obtain a health certificate can call the hotline at 15335 or visit the 100 Million Healthy Lives initiative's website to find information about the nearest public health centre that administers required tests.