According to a statement released by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, the healthcare measures are designed to eliminate waiting lists and expand treatment coverage for uninsured individuals.
The provisions will designate urgent assistance ahead of Ramadan and Eid El-Fitr while offering sustained economic support through increased cash aid, healthcare allocations, and wage hikes.
This initiative marks a deliberate approach to shield low-income groups from inflation’s impact while reinforcing Egypt’s safety net programmes. Simultaneously, it works to embed targeted assistance within an expansive socio-economic vision.
The package includes additional cash support for 10 million families registered on ration cards, costing the state EGP 4 billion.
Single-person ration cardholders will receive an extra EGP 125, while families of two or more will receive EGP 250 for two months.
Separately, families enrolled in the Takaful and Karama programmes will benefit from a one-time payment of EGP 300 during Ramadan, adding EGP 1.5 billion to the programmes' costs.
In the healthcare sector, the government has allocated EGP 3 billion to treat critical cases at state expense and eliminate waiting lists for medical procedures. These efforts align with presidential directives to ensure urgent cases are resolved before Eid El-Fitr, reflecting the priority placed on access to care for uninsured individuals and low-income households.
Minimum wage and recruitment
Meanwhile, wage increases for state employees and pension adjustments will take effect on 1 July 2025. The minimum wage will rise to EGP 7,000, and pensions will see incremental increases, with the government committing EGP 170 billion to these changes.
Public sector recruitment has also been prioritized, with plans to hire 75,000 teachers, 30,000 doctors, and 10,000 administrative staff.
The government is further addressing economic empowerment by creating an EGP 10 billion fund to support vulnerable families and generate job opportunities for youth. Assistance for irregular workers is also being expanded, with grants for registered workers increasing to EGP 1,500, costing EGP 2 billion through June 2026.
Agriculture has not been overlooked. To support farmers facing rising costs, the local wheat procurement price has been raised to EGP 2,200 per ardeb, adding EGP 6 billion to government spending. Cotton farmers will also benefit from a subsidy of EGP 2,000 per quintal, totalling EGP 3.5 billion.
These steps reflect an effort to stabilize household finances amid the dual pressures of inflation and currency instability. The 2024-25 state budget, recently approved by the cabinet, includes substantial increases in spending on social protections, healthcare, and education.
Education funding, for instance, will rise by 30 percent, though it remains below the constitutional requirement of six percent of GDP. Healthcare spending also falls short of constitutional benchmarks, though new allocations aim to address critical gaps.
With Ramadan approaching, the government is emphasizing the urgency of its interventions, aiming to provide tangible relief to millions of citizens.
Short link: