Chairman of the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR) Ahmed Taha said that the sustainable expansion of Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system must begin with strong primary healthcare and facilities capable of delivering safe, high-quality services in accordance with unified quality standards.
The remarks came during a meeting between GAHAR chairman and international health expert and World Bank health policy adviser Sameh El-Saharty at GAHAR’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.
The meeting reviewed the achievements, challenges and opportunities emerging from the first phase of the system, with discussions focusing on translating accumulated lessons and expertise into approaches supporting expansion into new governorates.
During the meeting, Chairman Taha stressed the importance of integrating available databases, human resources and other resources to accurately identify needs, optimise resource allocation and accelerate the readiness of targeted governorates and healthcare facilities.
He highlighted primary healthcare as the citizen’s gateway to the health system and a cornerstone of sustainable expansion, given its role in prevention, early detection, follow-up and managing referrals to higher levels of care, while helping reduce pressure on hospitals and improve resource utilisation.
He added that the success of expansion should not be measured solely by the number of participating governorates or facilities, but by the ability to sustain quality, patient safety and service efficiency.
Accreditation and regulation, he noted, provide essential safeguards for maintaining these standards as coverage expands.
For his part, WB health policy advisor described Egypt’s healthcare reform and Health Insurance expansion as a significant developmental milestone contributing to improved health, service quality, human capital and productivity.
He stressed continued co-operation, use of Egyptian expertise and integration between public and private stakeholders.
The two sides agreed to pursue technical cooperation in facility accreditation readiness, primary healthcare, data-driven planning and decision-making, and private sector participation, supporting the state’s expansion plans.
The meeting also reflects GAHAR’s strategy of strengthening international co-operation and developing quality and accreditation systems to advance healthcare reform, patient safety and public confidence.
