Egypt’s healthcare sector is undergoing a major shift, with policymakers and investors working to reshape it into a more attractive investment destination. Government officials and private players are in talks about how regulatory changes and new legislation are unlocking potential across the sector, from ins. and pharma to infrastructure and digital health, as discussed at a Thebes Consultancy workshop attended by EnterpriseAM.

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Egypt is redrawing the investment map for healthcare, backed by updated legislation like the Universal Health Ins. Law and new regulations for medical professions and institutions, we were told. The government is also working through regulatory bodies to boost investment. The local market offers major investment options in hospitals, medical supplies, and pharma, supported by skilled labor and rising demand, according to Presidential Health Advisor and former Health Minister Mohamed Awad Tag El Din.

But there’s still work to be done. While the private sector already delivers 75% of healthcare services in Egypt, the lack of a clear investment roadmap and practical incentives continues to be a hurdle, healthcare policy expert Hossam Badrawi said.

Pharma and medical supplies are among the most ready sectors for investment, Tag El Din said. Egypt’s local industry already meets about 90% of domestic needs, and the government aims to localize medical device production through land allocation and incentives. The goal is to boost self-sufficiency, reduce pressure on FX, and grow exports to Africa and the Middle East.

Ins. market reforms are already taking shape: Recent legislative amendments brought major changes to the medical ins. landscape, including the reclassification of medical ins. as a specialized category and setting new rules for ins. and third-party administration companies (TPAs), Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) Vice Chairman Islam Azzam said. Capital requirements have been significantly raised to strengthen companies’ financial stability, while regulations now in the works aim to clarify market roles and reduce conflicts of interest, he added.

Alexandria is next in line: The government is considering launching universal health ins. in Alexandria in partnership with the private sector this year or next, Tag El Din said. This will require a strong network of primary care units and infrastructure, as well as private-sector involvement in operating medical centers and radiology clinics.

Mandatory health ins. is underway: The law also introduces mandatory medical liability ins., Azzam said. Two committees – one at the Health Ministry and another at the FRA – are developing the framework for a new fund, with bylaws expected in the coming weeks.

The gov’t is also aiming to reduce costs: The government wants to reduce out-of-pocket health spending from 60% to 22% by expanding the universal ins. system, which blends public and private funding, House Health Committee head and former health minister Ashraf Hatem said.

Still, private investment in public hospitals faces hurdles: Converting public hospitals to meet new codes could cost more than EGP 1 bn, Cleopatra Hospitals CEO Ahmed Ezz El Din said, adding that uncompetitive pricing and long contract terms are limiting investor appetite. “There may be an appetite to invest, but the returns don’t match the risks,” he said.

Primary care could be the reform gateway: Establishing one primary care unit for every 500k citizens could ease pressure on hospitals and improve cost-efficiency, Badrawi said. He added that these centers would act as mandatory entry points before patients can access hospital services.

Home care and health tech offer untapped potential: Digital health, home-based care, and ins. management services remain untapped and could attract capital, especially with the right investment map and incentives for underserved areas, Badrawi said.

Will the Medical Liability Act balance doctor-patient relations? The draft law introduces a mechanism to resolve disputes outside the courts through a three-member technical committee, whose advisory report would help guide court decisions, Hatem said. The law is designed not as a punitive measure, but as a way to regulate the profession and safeguard the rights of both patients and healthcare providers, Universal Health Ins. Authority CEO Mai Farid said.

TPAs will see tighter oversight: The FRA is drafting new regulations to separate the roles of brokers and TPAs, which administer care programs on behalf of ins. firms. Temporary licenses are being offered, provided firms meet tech and capital requirements, Azzam said.

Turning around state-run hospitals: State-run hospitals have become a drain on public finances, Hatem said, adding that a solution lies in turning them into joint-stock companies or outsourcing their management to professional operators to improve efficiency.

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