PM reviews preps to launch Phase II of new health insurance system

UHIS currently delivering 3,451 accredited services to 3.8m citizens via 406 outlets

Prime Minister Dr Moustafa Madbouli convened a meeting on Monday to review the progress achieved in the first phase of the Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS) and preparations underway for the second phase.

Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, Dr Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, and senior officials of healthcare authorities and agencies.

The meeting featured a detailed review of the General Authority for UHIS’s work, Cabinet Spokesman Mohamed al-Hommosani said. 

During the meeting, Prime MinisterMadbouli emphasised the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services nationwide, highlighting directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to expedite the implementation of the UHIS in its capacity as provider of extensive healthcare coverage to citizens.

The review indicated that the system currently delivers 3,451 accreditedhealth services, through 406 outlets, to 3.8 million beneficiaries registered across the first-phase governorates; namely Port Said, Luxor, Ismailia, South Sinai, and Suez, via 189 activated outlets as of December, the spokesman said.

The review also highlighted that 91per cent of accredited medical facilities have been contracted to deliver services under the system, Homosani said, adding that these include primary care units, specialised hospitals, optical centres, radiology centers, laboratories, and pharmacies.

Of these facilities, 62 per cent are affiliated with the Egyptian HealthCare Authority (GAHAR), while 38per cent are associated with private sector institutions, civil society organisations, the public sector, and the business sector.  

The UHIS General Authority is actively addressing complaints and cases referred to it through the government complaints system. This includes cases from both the governorates implementing the first phase and other regions. 

The meeting further reviewed the progress in the digital transformation and automation of the system, as well as the readiness of several medical facilities scheduled to go operational in preparation for the UHIS second phase, the Cabinet spokesman added.