OPEN// PM pledges full support for PPP's development projects
This came during a meeting held on the sidelines of his visit to Alexandria Governorate to review the institutional preparations underway to integrate the coastal governorate into Egypt's Universal Health Insurance System.
The meeting presented a proposed project to establish a healthcare network through cooperation between the governorate, an investment alliance, and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC).
The meeting was attended by Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sherif El Sherbini, Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled, Deputy Minister of Housing Sayed Ismail, Alexandria Deputy Governor Amira Salah Abdel Hakim, Head of the Central Agency for Reconstruction Mahmoud Nassar and President of FEDCOC Ahmed El Wakeel as well as board member Emad Abdel Wahab.
During the meeting, businessman Ahmed Tarek gave a presentation on the project, which aims to establish a healthcare network in cooperation with the governorate, an investment alliance, and FEDCOC to facilitate Alexandria's integration into the universal insurance system.
Tarek said the network seeks to restructure and develop Alexandria's healthcare system, creating the governorate's first large-scale, tech-enabled primary care network.
It will comprise 70 smart digital clinics distributed across Alexandria, offering a fully integrated model of care, with investments exceeding EGP 1 billion to support primary, preventive, therapeutic, and diagnostic services and position Alexandria as a hub for medical tourism to Africa and the wider region.
The project includes 70 comprehensive primary care units selected based on population density to ensure scientifically grounded coverage. Of these, 35 clinics will be fully financed and operated by the investment alliance led by Alexandria Governorate, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, and a group of local investors to guarantee geographical fairness and inclusiveness. The remaining 35 clinics will be owned by groups of doctors (three to four doctors per clinic), enabling 100 to 150 Egyptian physicians to become partners in the national health transformation.
Tarek said this model supports professional empowerment and broadens local ownership. It includes a contingency financing plan from the investment alliance to ensure continuity if any participating doctor encounters financial difficulties, preventing delays or gaps in implementation, he added.
He outlined the network's core objectives: expanding access to healthcare across Alexandria through smart, accessible services, providing top-quality care via accredited smart facilities and teams trained under B well global standards, reducing costs through integration with the universal insurance system, and developing AI-driven systems for appointment booking, medical diagnostics, and clinical and administrative decision support.
Tarek also highlighted the roles of key ministries, especially that of Health and Population, as well as the Alexandria Governorate and the Universal Health Insurance Authority, which are facilitating the project by providing technical and logistical support, local infrastructure, and health coverage data. The authority will also integrate beneficiaries under agreed frameworks, while the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology supplies essential AI applications.
For his part, FEDCOC's Wakeel said the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is a core partner in this healthcare network, serving as a link between investors and government sectors to unite investment efforts behind a shared national vision for supporting healthcare. The chamber also offers data needed for successful investment decisions, ensuring sustainability for all stakeholders, he said.
Wakeel noted that the new system guarantees comprehensive coverage for all private-sector workers, maximizing the mutual benefits of this new partnership model.
He stressed that the project exemplifies fruitful cooperation among the State, civil society, and the private sector, and could be replicated in other governorates through local chambers of commerce.
FEDCOC board member Emad Abdel Wahab said that success in Alexandria would accelerate integration of citizens across Egypt into the universal insurance system.
The project, he stressed, is not merely infrastructure, it lays the foundation for a comprehensive national vision to shape Egypt's healthcare future, strengthens medical sector infrastructure, expedites Alexandria's inclusion in the insurance system, and empowers doctors through ownership and professional development. Also, he continued, it pioneers a shift in primary and secondary care using technology, data, and training, improving public health and reducing pressure on hospitals.
Additionally, the initiative aims for direct economic returns by incorporating Egypt's informal health sector, expanding the tax base, and positioning Egypt as a regional medical tourism hub for African and Gulf patients, he said. It also offers a scalable strategic model to extend smart healthcare coverage nationwide, he added.
Madbouli endorsed the proposal, announcing an immediate meeting to discuss its execution with Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.
He pledged full support to ensure its success, requesting a realistic, clear implementation plan as soon as possible for review.
Alexandria's governor said discussions have already begun with global technology companies to prepare the project's technical infrastructure.
The governorate has also initiated early institutional and legislative measures, holding direct coordination meetings with the Universal Health Insurance Authority, which set standards the municipal authorities will be committed to meeting on time to ensure the highest quality and efficiency, he added. (MENA)
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