Egypt raises healthcare readiness after earthquake

Egypt’s Healthcare Authority has raised the state of readiness across all hospitals, medical complexes, and family medicine centres and units affiliated with it in governorates implementing the Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS) following an earthquake felt by citizens in the early hours of Monday.

The authority said it is conducting continuous monitoring through its emergency and crisis management operations rooms and those of its branches to assess developments and ensure the preparedness of healthcare facilities.

The authority is also monitoring the readiness of emergency departments and intensive care units, as well as the availability of medical teams across its facilities. It is further ensuring the efficiency of electricity systems, backup power supplies, medical gas systems, and the availability of medicines and medical supplies to enable rapid responses in line with quality and safety standards.

The authority affirmed that it is maintaining full coordination with relevant bodies as part of the state’s integrated crisis and emergency management system, ensuring the continued operation of healthcare facilities and the uninterrupted provision of services to beneficiaries of the Universal Health Insurance System.

It stressed that all its facilities continue to operate with full readiness, while closely following developments and implementing the necessary measures to guarantee the delivery of efficient and high-quality healthcare services.

The authority reiterated that citizens’ safety and the continuity and quality of healthcare services remain its top priorities, noting that all teams are fully prepared to respond to any emergency and ensure the Universal Health Insurance System’s ability to handle different circumstances effectively.