Egypt Universal Health Insurance System

An Egyptian national health coverage system established by Universal Health Insurance Law No. 2 of 2018, enacted on January 11, 2018, and given executive regulations on May 5 of that year, replacing Egypt's earlier patchwork of separate insurance schemes with a single mandatory system built on the principle of social solidarity. The law rests on Egypt's 2014 constitution, whose Article 18 recognizes every citizen's right to comprehensive health care meeting quality standards and commits the state to raising health spending toward at least 3 percent of gross national product, and it introduces a purchaser-provider split along with stricter referral rules and regulated patient cost-sharing. Coverage applies mandatorily to citizens residing in Egypt, with optional coverage for Egyptians working abroad and their families, and the law is being rolled out progressively across Egypt's governorates in six geographic phases, beginning with Port Said, with the aim of covering the whole country, including Cairo, Giza and Qalyoubeya in the final phase, by 2032.