Egypt’s Cabinet approves automatic enrolment process for low-income health insurance

Egypt’s Cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft decision by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly to activate an automatic registration system for low-income citizens under the country’s Universal Health Insurance (UHI) scheme.

The move, approved during the Cabinet’s 65th weekly meeting, will streamline enrolment for citizens classified as low-income under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 4586 of 2023, which outlines eligibility criteria and exempts such groups from paying insurance contributions.

Registration will draw on databases from the Ministry of Social Solidarity’s cash and social support programmes, ensuring that eligible individuals are automatically included in the system. The ministry will also provide the Universal Health Insurance Authority (UHIA) with regularly updated data to maintain accurate coverage.

The UHIA will take necessary measures to guarantee that low-income citizens receive health services from the date of programme rollout in each governorate or upon registration, whichever is later, without requiring any direct action from beneficiaries.

According to Cabinet data, about 905,000 low-income citizens have already received healthcare services under the first phase of the system, representing 17.6 per cent of the 5.13 million people enrolled, with all costs covered by the state budget.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser