Health Services

The medical facilities are very good in Egypt, and Egypt has a good reputation of providing good medical care. There are modern private and public hospitals and clinics operating throughout the country.

Many of the doctors in Egypt speak English, and many of them are western trained. The standard of medical knowledge is very high, so high in fact that many students from other Arab countries and Africa come to Egypt to study medicine.

Health Insurance

It’s advisable for all people travelling to Egypt to take out the appropriate health insurance. If you require medical treatment most doctors or hospitals will request payment in cash regardless of whether you have health insurance. The health insurance will come in handy if you require more urgent medical care and you are required to leave the country.

The future for Egypt looks extremely positive with the recent announcement that the Egyptian Government plans to establish 50 new state hospitals in Egypt. This new massive project will be achieved through both local and foreign private sector financing. In addition to the implementation of 50 new hospitals, there is a new public health insurance scheme which will be implemented in 2010. The new hospitals are expected to be complete before this scheme comes into effect.

Change in diet

The main problem that you might have when visiting Egypt is an upset stomach due to a change in diet. The food in Egypt is different than what you eat in the UK and Europe and therefore may cause slight upsets. It’s also not advisable to drink the tap water to err on the side of caution.