Spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said that the Ministry of Health launched a new “interval periods” system to receive patients with chronic diseases during afternoon hours, as part of a plan aimed at easing pressure on health insurance clinics and improving service quality.
In a phone-in on Extra News channel, Abdel Ghaffar explained that the ministry and the General Authority for Health Insurance face a daily challenge due to overcrowding during morning hours, when insured patients traditionally seek medical services, leading to overcrowding at clinics.
He noted that the heavy turnout is particularly concentrated among chronic disease patients, who require regular follow-ups and continuous access to medication, thereby intensifying pressure on healthcare facilities during peak hours.
The ministry designated the period from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. specifically for chronic disease patients. The measure is intended to redistribute patient flow throughout the day, reduce morning crowding and maximize the operational capacity of healthcare facilities, he said.
Abdel Ghaffar stressed that the ministry is working to eliminate the longstanding scene of morning crowdedness by reorganizing patient flow and ensuring more efficient and streamlined service delivery, especially given that many chronic disease patients are elderly and may struggle with long waiting times, in addition to the negative health effects associated with overcrowding.
The system is scheduled to be piloted in several high-density branches, including health insurance clinics in Nasr City and Dokki in Giza governorate, as well as branches in Qalyubiya, Gharbiya, Assiut and the Northwest Delta region, he asserted.
The initiative will later be rolled out nationwide following an evaluation of the pilot phase and confirmation that targeted outcomes have been achieved, he said. MENA
