The addition of Alexandria to the universal health insurance system is yet to be determined, says Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Sunday.
Madbouly stated that even if the governorate’s private medical sector is interested in and supportive of the system, the ultimate decision would be made following the completion of the necessary financial assessments.
“What is required now is to confirm through financial studies the ability to accommodate the governorate of Alexandria in this phase,” Madbouly stated according to Daily News Egypt.
Ahmed Khaled Hassan Saeed, the governor of Alexandria, stated that a number of workshops had been conducted with officials from private hospitals and physicians from the civil medical sector, who attested to their readiness and resounding support for the system’s deployment.
In comparison to the governorates in the first and second phases, Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that Alexandria had a major edge because of its human resources, university hospitals and private hospitals.
Meanwhile, Universal Health Insurance Authority deputy chairman Ehab Abou Aish said that actuarial estimates show that, given the system’s present financial reserves, it will be able to cover Alexandria at the suggested time.
With a registration rate of 85 percent of the entire population, he reported that the system has reached 5.1 million beneficiaries across six governorates.
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Minya Governorate first stop of second phase implementation
The governorate of Minya in Upper Egypt will be the first to implement the second phase of the nation’s national health insurance system, as Madbouly ordered officials to do on Sunday.
According to a statement from his office, Madbouly issued the order during a meeting on Monday to assess the preparedness of the governorates scheduled for the second phase and to discuss the potential inclusion of the Alexandria governorate in this stage.
The executive measures and plan for achieving the second phase, with an initial focus on Minya, were provided by Ahmed El-Sobky, chairperson of the Egypt Healthcare Authority.
He oversaw the governorate’s ready hospitals, health units and family medical centres, including those set up as part of the “Decent Life” campaign.
Meanwhile, other governorates being considered for the second phase are Matrouh, Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh, and North Sinai, encompassing a total population of over 12 million people.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Vivien Bernardino