Deputy Minister of Planning participates in WHO symposium on "Comprehensive Health Insurance”

Dr. Ahmed Kamali, Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, participated recently in the "Comprehensive Health Insurance for Universal Health Coverage - Sharing the Egyptian Experience" symposium, which was held by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in the framework of the celebration of International Universal Health Coverage Day.During the session, Dr. Ahmed Kamali said that the Egyptian state has attached the utmost importance to the right to development as the essence of human rights. He further noted that Egypt has set among the main determinants of its development policies a strategic goal. To achieve this goal, we must build the Egyptian person and improve the quality of life of citizens.During his speech, Dr. Ahmed Kamali stressed that improving the quality of life is a goal of the Egyptian government. He referred to the launch of the presidential initiative for comprehensive health insurance to improve health.Kamali clarified that this represents a goal for the entire government and not for a specific ministry. He stressed the importance of this goal and its connection with the third goal of the UN goals, which is related to the field of health.Kamali indicated that the current year witnessed the largest increase in the part related to health and education. This is because it witnessed an increased interest in the matter of infrastructure, in addition to making the construction of Egyptian prisons a priority. This is because there would be no development without human development and investment in people.In terms of public health investments for fiscal year 22/23, Kamali explained that they amounted to EGP 17.781 billion, adding that substantial programs will be invested in 2022/2023.It included investing in primary health care services at a value of EGP 1.539 billion. In addition, it included investing in comprehensive health insurance at a value of EGP 5.31 billion.Kamali referred to the population and family investment program at a value of EGP 315.5 million. This includes the development and implementation of family health centers targeted in the 22/2023 plan.The project of developing and equipping 52 centers for the development of the Egyptian family approved investments of EGP 255 million within the framework of the national project for the development of the Egyptian family, and work is currently underway to develop 20 centers.In the investment in a decent life initiative, Kamali said EGP 1.342 billion was allocated to 15 hospitals and EGP 755 million to 105 health units. This was done by expanding the availability of intensive care beds by providing 1,500 intensive care beds to improve availability rates. This was with a focus on priority governorates.Dr. Ahmed Kamali affirmed the state's endeavor to achieve its goal by adopting health and other presidential mechanisms and initiatives. These mechanisms and initiatives ensure effectiveness, seriousness in implementation, and comprehensive benefit from those initiatives.Kamali added that the volume of public investments in the health sector amounted to EGP 182 billion during the period from 13/14 t22/23. This results in the implementation of many initiatives including initiatives that are the largest in Egypt, the world of its kind in terms of the number of beneficiaries.Kamali referred to the 100 Million Health Initiative, which benefited 60 million citizens. In addition, the Hepatitis C Initiative, where 50 million people were examined and 1.2 million infected were treated.Kamali added that all these efforts were reinforced by the implementation of the DecenLife Initiative. The project represents the largest development initiative in the history of Egypt and the world. It aims to improve the living conditions of villagers by providing protection and social care and improving the quality of human development services.The goal of health coverage is to provide a decent life for society so that society is at the core of prosperity.Kamali explained that caring for health is not only about providing services and providing hospitals but also about improving the quality of service provided. This is one of the government's priorities.