The Universal Health Insurance Authority (UHIA) said the procedures ranged from imported medicines for rare conditions to complex heart and transplant surgeries, all fully covered under the system. The authority said the coverage helps protect families from high medical costs while expanding access to advanced medical care nationwide.
UHIA Executive Director Mai Farid said the November cases reflect the system’s commitment to providing safe and comprehensive healthcare for all citizens, in line with the state’s goal of building a fair and sustainable health system.
Farid said the authority remains focused on ensuring access to advanced medical treatments while improving service quality and patient experience, adding that universal health insurance is a key part of Egypt’s broader healthcare reform.
Rare and high-cost treatments in Luxor
In Luxor, the authority covered the cost of importing a specialized drug worth EGP 1.926 million to treat a child with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare condition that did not respond to standard treatment.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the UHIA said the medication was sourced from abroad after approval from the Medical Advisory Council and that the child is currently receiving treatment under specialized medical supervision.
Luxor also recorded other complex cases, including the implantation of a brain stimulation device for a patient with severe coronary artery insufficiency, as well as treatment for a child diagnosed with a high-risk malignant adrenal tumour.
The child received chemotherapy followed by a successful autologous bone marrow transplant and remains under medical follow-up.
Cochlear implant and open-heart surgery in Ismailia
In Ismailia, a seven-year-old girl with profound hearing loss underwent a cochlear implant procedure costing more than EGP 750,000, while the family paid no more than EGP 482, according to the authority.
The UHIA said the procedure was selected after detailed medical examinations and carried out following coordination between healthcare providers and the medical team.
The governorate also saw a complex open-heart surgery for a 22-year-old female medical student with congenital heart defects requiring valve replacement and corrective procedures.
The operation was performed at the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation and fully covered by the insurance system. Medical teams said the patient’s condition was stable, with significant improvement in heart function.
Bone marrow transplants in Aswan and Port Said
In Aswan, a 57-year-old patient underwent a bone marrow transplant costing up to EGP 500,000 at Sheikh Zayed Specialized Hospital, with the full cost covered by the insurance scheme.
A similar procedure was performed for a 60-year-old woman at Misr Aviation Hospital, also fully funded by the system.
In Port Said, the authority oversaw the referral of a 13-year-old girl to Cairo Specialized Hospital for a non-autologous bone marrow transplant, which was completed successfully.
The authority said additional diagnostic tests outside the standard service package were approved to ensure the child’s safety, without any extra cost to the family.
Cardiac care for children and the elderly
In South Sinai, a five-year-old girl underwent successful cardiac catheterisation to treat an atrial septal defect after being referred to the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation, with the procedure fully covered by insurance.
In Suez, an elderly woman received urgent cardiac care, including the implantation of two stents, following rapid assessment and coordination between referral units and medical teams, the authority said.
Officials said the November cases highlight the insurance system’s growing ability to provide advanced medical care across governorates while protecting beneficiaries from financial hardship.
Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance System is a state-led reform aimed at providing comprehensive and equitable healthcare coverage for all citizens.
The scheme was launched on a trial basis in Port Said in 2018 and has since expanded gradually to several governorates, including Luxor, Ismailia, South Sinai, Suez, and Aswan as of July 2025, completing the first phase of implementation.
The system was originally scheduled to achieve nationwide coverage by 2032, but following presidential directives, the timeline was accelerated, with full implementation now planned by 2027–2030.
By late 2025, the first phase of the programme had included tens of millions of beneficiaries and involved major public investment in family health units, hospitals, and specialised centres.
Officials said more than 250 million health services have been delivered so far, with total funding exceeding EGP 48 billion, reflecting a growing state commitment to universal healthcare and protection from high medical costs.
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