The minimally invasive procedure, which typically exceeds EGP 1 million per case outside comprehensive coverage, offers a safe alternative to repeated open-heart surgeries for patients with complex congenital heart defects, marking what officials described as a qualitative leap in specialized cardiac care within the new insurance system.
EHA Chairman Ahmed El-Sobky said the two operations represent “a significant improvement in the level of advanced services provided,” noting that both patients received the treatment entirely free under the Universal Health Insurance System, without any co-payment.
He added that introducing advanced pulmonary valve implantation technology using catheterization would spare children repeated open-heart surgeries and provide “a safer and more stable life,” stressing that the state prioritizes children’s health.
According to a statement by the authority, Al-Nasr Specialized Hospital has developed a comprehensive infrastructure of trained medical staff and advanced equipment, enabling it to perform highly precise procedures in line with international standards and strengthening its role as a regional centre for complex pediatric heart care.
The first patient, aged 18, underwent a successful pulmonary valve implantation after having seven previous medical interventions since birth and was discharged in stable condition 24 hours later.
The second patient, aged 16, who had complex congenital heart defects and had previously undergone four open-heart surgeries and two cardiac catheterisation procedures, was discharged in stable condition 72 hours after the operation, the authority said.
The procedures were carried out by what the authority described as the only accredited medical team in Africa authorized to perform pulmonary valve implantation via catheterization. The team was led by Dr Abdel-Rahman El-Afifi, head of paediatric cardiology and interventional catheterization for congenital defects at Al-Nasr Specialized Hospital and the Magdi Yacoub Hospitals, alongside a multidisciplinary team of consultants, anaesthesiologists, nurses, and technicians.
The authority said the achievement reflects its strategy to upgrade its facilities into centres of excellence and expand access to advanced medical procedures under the Universal Health Insurance System, highlighting a broader improvement in the quality and sustainability of public healthcare services.
Egypt’s UHIS, established under Law No. 2 of 2018, has delivered more than 250 million medical services to over 6.2 million beneficiaries since its launch, with public spending exceeding EGP 48 billion, as part of a nationwide reform aimed at achieving full health coverage by 2030.
The mandatory, solidarity-based system separates financing, service provision, and regulation, requiring healthcare facilities to obtain accreditation before joining and applying fixed co-payments to ensure financial sustainability and quality control.
The first phase of the programme began as a pilot in Port Said in 2018 and was completed in July 2025, expanding to cover Luxor, Ismailia, South Sinai, Suez, and Aswan. Authorities said the phase focused on infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation of medical records, expansion of primary healthcare services, and access to high-cost specialized treatments.
The second phase, currently underway, covers Minya, Matrouh, Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh, and North Sinai, and incorporates 69 hospitals with more than 11,400 beds and 669 primary healthcare units, many of which are linked to the Haya Karima rural development initiative.
Under the system’s population-based planning standards, one public-sector hospital bed is allocated per 1,000 citizens, while regulated private-sector participation is capped at 30–40 percent and subject to accreditation requirements.
Officials said the rollout schedule has been accelerated to achieve nationwide coverage by 2030, positioning the Universal Health Insurance System as the foundation of Egypt’s long-term healthcare reform and financial protection strategy.
Short link: