Egyptian Finance Minister Mohamed Maait discussed with a high-level delegation from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Monday the development of the comprehensive health insurance system.
He stressed that the government is working to lay the foundations of a national strategy and that the implementation of the comprehensive health insurance system is one of its basic pillars.
During the meeting, Maait reviewed the program proposed by JICA to develop the comprehensive health insurance system, which aims to improve and manage medical bodies with the help of Japanese experts specialized in this field in coordination with Egypt’s Health Ministry.
Maait explained that in his capacity as chairman of the General Authority for Comprehensive Health Insurance, he welcomes cooperation with JICA and all international institutions and organizations to transfer international expertise in the field to the Egyptian system to support the efforts of the government represented by the Health Ministry to provide excellent health care to Egyptian citizens.
The Japanese delegation stressed the JICA’s readiness to contribute to funding the centers and hospitals needed for the application of the comprehensive health insurance system.
Maait also discussed the proposal of the JICA delegation to communicate with the World Bank about participating in support for Egypt’s state budget with US$500 million to finance health care programs.
The Agency promised to provide funding for these programs worth US$250 million that will contribute to the development of the comprehensive health insurance system.
The minister pointed out that the talks touched on the advantages of the comprehensive health insurance system and the financial burdens on the general budget for financing the system, such as payoff for the subscriptions of the poor.
Maait explained that the two sides agreed to prepare a memorandum of understanding to be signed between the Finance Ministry and JICA to start taking the executive procedures for the agreed initiatives of cooperation in the healthcare sector.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
