Egypt's new healthcare system to cost 29 bn euros Deputy finance minister says state to cover one-third

 CAIRO - Egyptian daily Al Ahram said Egypt's new healthcare system will cost 600 billion Egyptian pounds per year - equivalent to over 29 billion euros - of which 200 billion pounds, or one-third, will be covered by the state government, according to statements by Deputy Finance Minister with the healthcare dossier, Mohamed Maiite.

The system will be introduced "gradually" over 10 years and its "umbrella" will cover "all social classes".

In particular, "the chronically ill, cancer patients, and pensioners will be completely exempt from the costs of healthcare treatments," Al Ahram said.

It said "the current system covers 54 million people with a budget of 6.5 billion Egyptian pounds, which means 110 pounds per person per year" while "the new system will ensure 1,300 pounds" for the first year with the possibility of annual increases.