Healthcare in Egypt

The Egyptian healthcare system is pluralistic, comprising a variety of healthcare providers from the public as well as the private sector. The government ensures basic universal health coverage, although private services are also available for those with the ability to pay. Due to social and economic pressures, Egypt's healthcare system is subject to many challenges. However, several recent efforts have been directed towards enhancing the system.

Healthcare system
Healthcare in Egypt consists of both a public and a private sector. For several decades, the government has provided a subsidized healthcare system that is meant to ensure health care for those who cannot afford it. The system relies on four distinct financial agents, including the government and the public sector as well as private organizations and out-of-pocket payments made by individuals and families. Due to its pluralistic nature, healthcare providers from the various sectors compete. Therefore, patients have the liberty of choosing their doctor on the basis of their financial abilities.

Public healthcare
Public health coverage is offered through the Ministry of Health, which operates a series of medical facilities providing free health services. There are two main quasi-governmental insurers. The Health Insurance Organization (HIO), is the largest public health-care payer, along with the Curative Care Organization (CCO). Their services are provided under the form of basic coverage. The HIO covers 60% of the population, including employees, students, and widows through premiums deducted from employee salaries and employer payrolls. The organization operates its own network of medical facilities and at times contracts with private healthcare providers. The Curative Care Organization (CCO) offers inpatient and outpatient care in specific governorate through contracts with other entities and individuals. Many mosques and churches also operate their own subsidized or free clinics, especially in the large cities.

The Universal Health Insurance project is a new mandatory health insurance system in Egypt, operating in accordance with Law No. 2 of 2018. It aims to replace the current health insurance system gradually through diffusing into the country's governments. Its umbrella covers all citizens participating in the system. Universal Health Insurance differs from the Health Insurance Organization in that the family will be considered the main unit of insurance coverage within the system. Another difference is that Universal Health Insurance is based on separating funding from service provision, and the Universal Health Insurance Authority may not provide treatment services or participate in providing them, but its role is to contract different health care providers (public or private) to provide services for the insured citizens.

Private healthcare
There are also private insurance options and a network of private healthcare providers and medical facilities. The private sector includes for-profit clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies. The private medical sector is deemed superior to the public services, in terms of quality. Statistics show that the private sector is the initial choice of a healthcare provider in Egypt, even among the lowest income groups.

Healthcare Financing in Egypt
The healthcare system in Egypt, a lower-middle-income country with a population of approximately 102 million as of 2020, involves multiple stakeholders including public and private healthcare providers and several financing agents. Despite improvements in health indicators over the last decades, such as an increase in life expectancy from 64.5 to 70.5 years, challenges remain in healthcare financing.

Total Health Expenditure (THE)
The Total Health Expenditure (THE) in Egypt, as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), has been relatively stagnant, ranging between 3.0% to 7.0% over the past 12 years, with a median of 5.5%. However, in absolute numbers, THE has been increasing, indicating a growth in healthcare spending in the Egyptian economy.

Governmental/Public Health Expenditure
Governmental Health Expenditure (GHE) accounts for approximately one-third of THE, varying from 24.8% to 50% of THE. It represents about 3.0% to 7.3% of the GDP and around 6.8% of the government budget. This expenditure has increased over the years, with recent figures showing an expenditure of about 73 billion EGP for the year 2019-2020.

Pharmaceutical Expenditure
A significant portion of healthcare spending is allocated to pharmaceuticals, accounting for about 26.0% to 37.0% of THE. This reflects the substantial role of pharmaceuticals in the healthcare budget, constituting a major component of both governmental and out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

Primary Healthcare Financing Sources
Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure is the primary healthcare financing source in Egypt, representing more than 60% of THE. This high proportion of OOP expenses poses a significant financial risk to families, potentially leading to catastrophic health expenditures and poverty. Government spending, primarily through the Ministry of Finance, accounts for about 37% of THE, supporting various healthcare activities and organizations.

Key Healthcare Entities

 * Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP): MoHP is responsible for providing preventive and curative services at various levels. It funds several organizations and initiatives like the Curative Care Organization and the Teaching Hospitals and Institutes Organization. A significant portion of MoHP's budget is allocated to medical goods and subsidized healthcare services, with a notable increase in the budget over recent years.
 * Curative Care Organization (CCO): A non-profit governmental organization, CCO provides healthcare services funded through multiple sources, including co-payments, general taxes, user fees, and government subsidy pools for impoverished patients.
 * Health Insurance Organization (HIO): An independent governmental organization, HIO provides compulsory insurance to most formal sector employees. Over the years, HIO's coverage and budget have expanded significantly, with a focus on enhancing beneficiary services through various funding sources.

Future Outlook: Universal Health Insurance (UHI)
In response to the challenges posed by the high OOP expenses, the Egyptian government is moving towards implementing Universal Health Insurance (UHI) to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to the entire population, aiming to reduce financial hardships related to healthcare expenses. This initiative is expected to significantly alter the landscape of healthcare financing in Egypt, with a phased implementation planned to be completed by 2032. The UHI is designed to increase public funding proportion, reduce financing fragmentation, and introduce new roles for private health insurance in the form of complementary and supplementary health insurance schemes.

Challenges
Egypt is now considered the second most highly populated country in the MENA region, with Cairo being among the world's most densely populated cities. The Egyptian population is relatively young, with 37% being children under the age of 15. The high population density, as well as increasing fertility rates, have challenged the healthcare system. High levels of pollution and overcrowding trigger health concerns. Egypt is a lower-middle-income country with high levels of unemployment. Despite the government's efforts to further the economy, 32.5% of Egyptians live in extreme poverty. With an increasing population and changing socioeconomic environment, Egypt faces great challenges in adapting to such developments in terms of healthcare facilities.

Shortcomings
Medical care offered by the public health insurance system is generally of poor quality. Although the system ensures basic universal coverage, it faces several shortcomings in terms of quality of service due to underfunding. Only 4.75% of the GDP in Egypt is dedicated to investments in healthcare services. Almost half of the public healthcare facilities have shortages of medical equipment and personnel. It is presumed that only 20% of the 660 government hospitals are committed to safety and infection control standards. Only about 6% of Egyptians covered by the Health Insurance Organization utilize its services due to dissatisfaction with the level of services it funds. In 2007/2008, 60% of health expenditure in Egypt was paid out of pocket by people seeking treatment. Excessive reliance on out-of-pocket financing of medical treatments creates inequalities of healthcare access. In 2007, more than 1/5th of the population struggled with catastrophic healthcare-related payments. Additionally, there is a gap in terms of availability of medical services between the capital Cairo, and other rural areas.

Improvements
During the past decade, the Egyptian healthcare system has improved in several aspects despite its pitfalls. By 2006, 95% of the population had access to primary healthcare within 5 km, and 98% of citizens were offered vaccinations. Egypt is working on an overhaul of its public healthcare system to improve its quality. On 11 January 2018, the Ministry of Health and Population launched the National Health Insurance project and increased its expenditure on healthcare services. The project aimed at providing more regular checkups for citizens as well as improving the quality and efficiency of the system. The Universal Health Insurance Law also attempts to extend healthcare coverage to a wider portion of society, rather than on a case-by-case basis.

While significant progress has been made in HTA implementation in Egypt, there is still a long way to go to achieve full and fruitful benefits. The proposed roadmap with specific actions aims to establish a successful HTA structure and related activities in the country. This includes a focus on innovative pharmaceuticals with significant budget impact, with future expansion to additional technologies within the scope of HTA.

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Implementation in Egypt
Egypt, as a lower-middle-income country with a population of approximately 102 million, is undergoing significant changes in its healthcare system. The introduction of Universal Health Insurance (UHI) and increased health spending are part of efforts to address systemic inequalities and inefficiencies in the healthcare system. The implementation of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is seen as a crucial step in this transformation.

A study was conducted among Egyptian healthcare sector decision-makers to propose an implementation roadmap for HTA. This roadmap is based on the national healthcare system's current status and includes interviews with experts representing the Egyptian healthcare system's middle and top-tier management.

Capacity Building
Experts recommended enhancing HTA and health economics capacity through more postgraduate programs tailored to country-specific needs. These programs should encompass not only theoretical knowledge but also practical, hands-on training. The proposal includes a timeline for developing these capacities, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary skills in HTA, especially in health economics.

Funding
For the assessment and critical appraisal aspects of HTA, private funding through submission fees is viewed as the most feasible option for the next decade. However, some public funding will be necessary, especially where HTA is initiated by public or academic institutes. The approach recommends a balanced funding model for critical appraisals, combining public and private sources.

Legislation and Scope
It's proposed that HTA should be mandatory by law for pricing and reimbursement, especially for high budget impact innovative technologies. The establishment of HTA units at various health authorities, with a long-term goal of merging these into a single central HTA unit, is also recommended. Initially, the focus should be on innovative pharmaceuticals, with a gradual expansion to cover all health technologies.

Decision Criteria
The decision-making process should utilize cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses, alongside other criteria like multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for tenders, especially for off-patent pharmaceuticals.

Quality and Transparency
Implementing guidelines and specific timelines for the HTA process is crucial. However, the full implementation of such guidelines is expected to take 3–5 years.

Use of Local Data
The importance of using local data in HTA is acknowledged, but there are challenges related to data availability and legal frameworks for data sharing. Efforts to develop more patient registries and utilize local claims data are recommended, anticipating that the data will be ready for use within 3–5 years.

International Collaboration
Experts support international collaboration for HTA, suggesting partnerships with global HTA bodies like the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) and others in Europe and Asia. This collaboration aims to facilitate hands-on training and experience sharing.