CAIRO: Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, has announced an extensive medical insurance plan for the upcoming New Year and Christmas celebrations. This initiative is part of the ministry’s broader effort to safeguard public health and ensure efficient healthcare delivery during the festive period.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the plan emphasizes key areas such as prevention, emergency services, and critical care. A central monitoring room has been established, incorporating various health sectors, alongside monitoring rooms in health directorates across governorates. Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, stated that readiness levels have been heightened in hospitals, with adequate stocks of medicines and medical supplies ensured. Medical convoys and mobile clinics will be strategically deployed near churches, parks, and remote areas, including Upper Egypt.

The Egyptian Ambulance Authority’s readiness will also be maximized, with 661 ambulances stationed at critical locations like churches and parks, and an additional 1,044 ambulances on highways and main roads. A crisis management room will operate continuously, maintaining communication with the Cabinet’s crisis room and relevant sectors.

Preventive measures are a cornerstone of the plan, focusing on services at border crossings, food safety, and environmental health. A strategic reserve of vaccines and serums will be maintained, with emergency preventive rooms ready to handle inquiries and reports. The global epidemiological situation will be closely monitored, with immediate actions taken as necessary.

Food safety teams will ensure compliance with health standards, while medical evacuation hospitals have been designated across governorates. Awareness teams will educate citizens on healthy habits and presidential health initiatives.

The General Authority for Health Care has raised readiness levels in health units and hospitals in key governorates, ensuring rapid response capabilities and coordination with the Egyptian Ambulance Authority. This comprehensive plan aims to provide robust health security during the festive season.