A planned initiative will combine discounted treatment with support for travel, accommodation and patient access as Egypt seeks to expand its medical tourism reach across Africa
Egypt is preparing a new medical tourism initiative aimed at attracting patients from African countries while expanding broader healthcare cooperation across the continent. The plans combine treatment in Egyptian healthcare facilities with measures designed to make cross-border patient journeys easier.
Ahmed El-Sobky, Chairperson of the Egypt Healthcare Authority, discussed the initiative with Mohamed Sherif, Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs. Their talks covered medical tourism alongside healthcare investment, training, digital medicine and the transfer of Egyptian expertise to African healthcare systems.
Discounted treatment for African patients
A central element is a proposed programme under the “We Care for You in Egypt” initiative that would provide treatment for African patients in Egypt at discounted rates.
The Egypt Healthcare Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plan to prepare a joint working paper identifying priority countries, target markets and medical services. The document is also expected to establish mechanisms for implementing the treatment programme and coordinating patient arrivals through Egyptian embassies.
The initiative would give Egypt a more structured approach to attracting international patients from Africa rather than relying solely on individual hospitals or bilateral referrals.
Visas, flights and accommodation enter the equation
Egypt is also looking beyond the medical treatment itself. Sherif highlighted the need for coordination between institutions to facilitate visa and travel procedures, improve air connectivity and develop packages combining treatment with accommodation.
These elements are particularly important in medical tourism, where access to healthcare depends not only on clinical capacity but also on the ability of patients and accompanying relatives to reach a destination, find suitable accommodation and organise their stay.
Closer coordination could therefore connect hospitals with diplomatic missions, airlines, accommodation providers and other services involved in international patient travel.
Virtual hospital extends Egyptian expertise across Africa
Digital healthcare is another component of the strategy. El-Sobky pointed to the Egypt Healthcare Authority's virtual hospital as an instrument for expanding cooperation with African healthcare institutions.
The platform provides remote specialist consultations while supporting medical training and the exchange of expertise. It can also connect healthcare institutions elsewhere in Africa with Egyptian medical specialists without requiring patients or medical professionals to travel for every consultation.
The authority intends to use the system for consultations and capacity-building as its African healthcare initiatives are introduced in phases according to the requirements of individual countries.
Nile Basin and Horn of Africa among target regions
Egypt's planned cooperation is expected to focus particularly on countries in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa. The Egypt Healthcare Authority intends to work with Egyptian investors and build on projects that are already operating across the continent.
Areas of cooperation could include the management and operation of healthcare facilities, governance, quality standards and digital transformation. Egypt is also looking at opportunities to transfer experience gained from its comprehensive health insurance system and to train medical personnel according to individual countries' requirements.
The approach therefore combines international patient acquisition with a broader healthcare partnership model encompassing investment, training and institutional development.
Egypt seeks stronger medical tourism identity
Developing a recognisable international profile for Egyptian healthcare services is another part of the strategy. Sherif sees opportunities to build on the reputation and historical presence of Egyptian medical and educational institutions in Africa to attract patients and deepen cooperation with healthcare providers.
For Egypt's medical tourism sector, the planned programme could create a more organised pathway between African source markets and Egyptian healthcare providers. Embassies could facilitate patient access, digital consultations could connect patients and institutions with Egyptian specialists, while travel and accommodation arrangements could become part of a more comprehensive treatment journey.
The next step will be translating the preliminary agreement into a detailed working framework. If implemented as planned, the initiative would position medical tourism as part of a wider Egyptian strategy combining healthcare exports, investment and long-term medical cooperation with African countries.
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