Egypt

Egypt’s healthcare system involves a number of private and public service providers. Management, funding, and care delivery is the responsibility of many groups, including public and government organizations, NGOs, charitable organizations, and private companies. As a result, Egypt has good geographic coverage and accessibility. The Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt determines policies, assesses the country’s overall health, and delivers public sector medical services. Financing for healthcare comes from many sources: taxes, health insurance plans, and out-of-pocket payments. Currently, Egypt is trying to make health insurance coverage universal across the country. The proposed plan is based on what is called a “family physician model,” which differentiates payment according to the service.

Healthcare Spending

Healthcare spending is low in Egypt, with only 5% of the country’s GDP going to healthcare costs. Given this percentage, the CIA World Factbook ranks Egypt as 143^rd in the world with respect to healthcare spending. In 2012, 5% of the national GDP amounted to approximately $323 USD per person, a figure that is above the average for the rest of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). However, the EMR has one of the lowest averages in the world on measures of healthcare spending, at approximately $150 USD per person.

Availability of Care

Egypt suffers from a shortage of trained health care professionals; however, the situation is not as dire as other countries in the region. In Egypt, there are 2.83 physicians per one thousand people, which is high compared to the average for the rest of the EMR at 1.14 doctors per one thousand persons. Indeed, the concentration of physicians is on par with some developed countries, such as the United States. In terms of nurses and midwives, Egypt also ranks higher than the rest of the region, with 3.52 nurses and midwives per every one thousand people. In contrast, there is a shortage of hospital beds in the country, with a ratio of 1:588 hospital beds to people.

Life Expectancy & Mortality

Life expectancy in Egypt is 73.45, a statistic that can be broken down further according to gender. For women in Egypt, life expectancy is currently 76.2 years, whereas for men, the average life expectancy is 70.82 years. The CIA World Factbook ranks Egypt 122^nd in the world with respect to life expectancy. Neighboring countries, including Libya, Algeria, and Morocco, have slightly higher life expectancies than Egypt.

Other Issues

Egypt has a rapidly growing healthcare sector. While it does not compare on all measures to the healthcare sector of most developed countries, gains are being made. As Egypt’s population grows, the government is trying to keep up, making plans to expand and rebuild public hospitals across the country. In 2013, health minister Mohamed Mostafa identified that thousands of the country’s hospitals and clinics will require refurbishing. This is being addressed through government investments in the country’s infrastructure. Another future direction for the Egyptian healthcare system is in making private healthcare more affordable. Currently, the private system is only accessible by the wealthy. This is hoped to be achieved through dual public-private agreements and partnerships in providing treatment.