President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi ordered the implementation of the first phase of the comprehensive medical insurance law, according to presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady.
The first phase includes eliminating waiting lists for patients seeking surgery or critical medical interventions, during a period of six months, as well as launching a project for developing 47 pilot hospitals across the nation and those affiliated to the Ministry of Health and university hospitals.
It further includes establishing comprehensive hepatitis C virus treatment for a total of 45 million Egyptian citizens in partnership with major pharmaceutical companies within two years, as well as providing a strategic stock of baby formula, serum, and vaccines.
Moreover, Al-Sisi order completing the processing and mechanisation of Port Said governorate in terms of construction, providing equipment, preparation of manpower, and registration of beneficiaries during the current year, in order to continue implementation of the first phase of the new programme in the rest of the governorates, including Suez, Ismailia, and North and South Sinai.
The law is supposed to be implemented within a maximum of 15 years, beginning with the governorate of Port Said. Parliament approved the controversial and long-awaited comprehensive health insurance law last December, and it is expected to be implemented in six stages, each comprising a number of governorates. The final stage will include Cairo, Giza, and Qalyubia.
