Cairo: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly reviewed progress in the digital transformation of Egypt's Universal Health Insurance System, with around 6.7 million medical records now digitised and preparations under way to expand the programme into its second phase.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during a meeting at the government headquarters in New Alamein, Madbouly said that the government is continuing efforts to build a more efficient and sustainable healthcare system, with universal health insurance intended to improve access to integrated medical services across the country.

For his part, Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stated that the first phase covers around 334 healthcare facilities and has registered 5.4 million citizens. More than 116 million medical services have been provided under the programme, including over 938,000 surgical procedures.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hindi mentioned that the ministry is supporting the programme through digital infrastructure and applications designed to improve healthcare services and increase operational efficiency. He added that government healthcare facilities are being connected to fibre-optic networks, while digital capacity-building programmes are being provided for staff.

Ahmed El-Sobky, chairman of the General Authority for Healthcare, reported that digital transformation has reached about 85% completion across the first-phase governorates. The programme has digitised 37 hospitals, 298 laboratories, 93 radiology departments, and 264 healthcare units and centres.

Around 6.7 million medical records have also been registered and digitised, providing a central data infrastructure for managing healthcare services and improving patient care. The meeting also reviewed preparations for the second phase of the Universal Health Insurance System, with Minya set to become the first governorate covered under the new phase.

Preparations include assessing facility readiness, upgrading digital infrastructure, providing medical equipment and medicines, recruiting and training staff, and conducting public awareness programmes. Government officials also discussed the technology infrastructure required for the second phase, the integration of digital applications among the relevant healthcare authorities, and plans for governance and long-term sustainability.

The government plans to use the expanded digital system to improve management of healthcare services, provide more accurate medical information, and support the gradual expansion of universal health insurance across the country.