"السياحة": منصة موحدة ومتكاملة لإنجاح منظومة السياحة العلاجية في مصر

"Tourism": A Unified and Comprehensive Platform to Support Egypt's Medical Tourism Ecosystem

Egypt's commitment to medical tourism is evident with the launch of a dedicated national platform offering comprehensive services to patients and their families.

Dr. Yamna Al-Bahar, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, highlighted the significance of this platform, emphasizing its role as a one-stop shop for all medical tourism services, encompassing hospitals, accommodations, and tourist attractions for accompanying individuals and, in some cases, patients themselves.

The platform is designed to improve the accessibility and ease of accessing medical tourism services in Egypt. It acts as a central point of contact for patients seeking medical treatment in Egypt, providing them with comprehensive information and streamlining the process of finding suitable healthcare providers and coordinating treatment plans.

Collaboration Across Ministries and Sectors

The success of Egypt's medical tourism ecosystem relies on the coordinated efforts of various entities. The Ministry of Health plays a crucial role in identifying hospitals and treatment facilities, while other agencies facilitate patient entry and exit procedures, ensuring a seamless experience for both patients and their companions.

The Ministry of Tourism has developed a targeted strategy tailored to different market segments, recognizing the distinct needs and demands of each audience. The Ministry actively participates in international exhibitions and conferences, promoting Egypt's medical tourism offerings alongside private sector partners.

Private Sector Involvement: A Key Driver

Mohamed Hablas, Regional Director of Saudi German Hospitals in Egypt and North Africa, emphasized the growing interest in health tourism, highlighting its potential as a source of national income. He advocated for a unified framework to consolidate the efforts of all stakeholders involved in this sector.

The private sector has been actively involved in medical tourism for decades, attracting skilled healthcare professionals and leveraging robust marketing capabilities to promote its services. The government, while focused on providing healthcare for its citizens, acknowledges the critical role of the private sector in driving medical tourism's growth.

Key Factors Driving Success

Egypt's medical tourism proposition is strengthened by several factors, including:

• Cost-Effectiveness: Medical treatment in Egypt is comparatively less expensive for foreigners, offering an attractive value proposition.
• Quality Healthcare: Egypt boasts a skilled medical workforce and high-quality medical infrastructure, offering a competitive edge in the global healthcare market.
• Strategic Location: Egypt's geographical proximity to various countries facilitates access to its medical tourism services.

Addressing Challenges and Fostering Growth

Dr. Asmaa Badran, Head of the Technical Secretariat of the Supreme Committee for Medical Tourism, chaired by the Council of Ministers, acknowledged two key challenges: establishing a robust system for managing patients arriving for medical tourism and enhancing international marketing efforts to promote Egypt's medical tourism offerings.

The national platform aims to address the first challenge, enabling patients to connect with relevant authorities to resolve any issues they encounter. The second challenge requires a concerted effort to raise global awareness of Egypt's medical tourism capabilities and attract a wider international patient base.

Key Highlights from the Session:

• Showcasing Egypt's Medical Capabilities: The session aimed to highlight Egypt's strengths in healthcare services and its potential to attract a larger share of the global medical tourism market.
• Government Initiatives: The session shed light on the Egyptian government's initiatives in promoting medical tourism, including the development of the national platform and targeted market strategies.
• Public-Private Partnerships: The session underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors in developing a successful model for medical tourism.

The conference, encompassing 133 discussion sessions covering health, population, and human development, features presentations from 803 international and local experts. The second edition of this conference reflects a shift towards incorporating human development as a central pillar, acknowledging its critical role in achieving better health outcomes and a more prosperous population.