2024/09/01

Sisi: Irregular construction workers to receive health coverage

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met today, Sunday, with Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly and Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population.

Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Fahmy, the official spokesman for the Presidency, said that El-Sisi was briefed on the National Human Development Project “A New Beginning for Building the Human,” a comprehensive plan to enhance human capital. The program is a collaborative effort between the government, civil society, and the private sector. The project aims to invest in human capital through initiatives in education, healthcare, culture, sports, and job opportunities. Its goal is to improve the lives of all Egyptians and promote a strong national identity.

The meeting discussed various healthcare initiatives, such as the development of Nasser Institute (Nile Medical City), the establishment of central laboratories in Badr City, and the collaboration with the Gustave Roussy Institute to improve the Dar El Salam Hormol Cancer Center. Additionally, the President directed the government to accelerate the construction of 30 hospitals and 500 medical units and centers in the governorates of Damietta, Minya, Kafr El Sheikh, North Sinai, and Matrouh, as part of the universal health insurance expansion.

The Deputy Prime Minister reviewed the studies for the New Capital Medical City project, which aims to revolutionize healthcare in Egypt and the region through advanced technology and artificial intelligence. The government is also actively seeking to attract private investment in the health sector by offering incentives and creating a favourable environment for partnerships.

The government is prioritizing the localization of the pharmaceutical industry and encouraging investment in drug and medical supply production. This is especially important in light of global supply chain disruptions, in a way that reflects on the continuous availability of drugs in the local market with high quality and fair prices to meet the needs of the citizens.

To expand social protection, the President has directed the government to include 8.5 million beneficiaries of Takaful and Karama, including informal workers in the construction sector, under the health insurance umbrella, at a cost of 10 billion Egyptian pounds annually. The government is also considering extending this coverage to additional groups of informal workers.