Health in Egypt

Ancient Egypt is one of the earliest civilizations to leave extensive written evidence of medical practice. Healing was connected to religion and ritual, but it also included practical observation: physicians recorded symptoms, proposed diagnoses, and recommended treatments that blended herbal remedies, dietary advice, and procedures.

Two of the most famous surviving sources are: the Ebers Papyrus (dated to around 1550 BCE) and the Edwin Smith Papyrus (dated to around 1600 BCE). These texts preserve hundreds of formulas and clinical case descriptions, making them foundational documents in the global history of medicine.

For a travel-and-history encyclopedia, this matters because Egypt’s medical heritage is visible in museums, temples, and the long cultural memory of figures associated with healing. It also provides context for how Egypt became a regional center of learning in later periods, from Alexandria to medieval Cairo.

After the Pharaonic era, Egypt remained a crossroads of ideas. Alexandria, founded in the Hellenistic period, became a major intellectual center of the Mediterranean. Later, Cairo grew into one of the most important cities of the Islamic world, with institutions that combined learning, charity, and public service.

A key example of organized public healthcare in medieval Cairo is the Bimaristan (hospital) of Sultan Qalawun, built as part of a major complex on al-Mu‘izz Street in 1284–1285. This hospital is frequently cited as one of the most significant charitable medical institutions of its time, supported through an endowment system (waqf).

Modern healthcare in Egypt is delivered through a mix of public services, insurance-linked providers, university hospitals, and private clinics. Large cities such as Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and major tourist hubs typically offer wider options and more specialized services than remote areas.

For travelers, the key practical point is that quality and costs can vary between facilities. When you plan a trip, it is wise to know where you would go for urgent care, how to contact emergency services, and how your insurance works abroad.

In 2018, Egypt enacted a universal health insurance law that established a comprehensive insurance system intended to expand coverage, improve governance, and strengthen quality assurance. Implementation is phased across governorates and is designed as a multi-year programme.

Independent health financing analyses describe the rollout as reaching multiple governorates — including Port Said, Luxor, Ismailia, South Sinai, Suez, and Aswan — with an overall target to extend coverage nationwide by 2032.

Egypt has run large-scale public health programmes that combine mass screening, treatment access, and national logistics. Three widely cited examples illustrate how these efforts connect healthcare policy with public wellbeing: hepatitis C elimination work, broad screening for noncommunicable diseases, and disease surveillance leading to malaria-free certification.

Save local emergency numbers before your trip. The most commonly listed numbers include: 122 (police), 123 (ambulance), and 180 (fire). Additional hotlines may include tourist police and traffic police.

Egypt attracts visitors not only for history and beaches, but also for healthcare services and wellness experiences. Some travelers combine tourism with dental care, eye care, elective procedures, or check-ups — while others seek wellness tourism in destinations known for climate, salt lakes, or desert retreats.

If you are planning any medical service abroad, the most important step is to use verified providers, ask for clear pricing, and confirm follow-up care arrangements before you travel.