Medical Syndicate Clarifies “Free” Emergency Care: Services Funded by State, Not Gratis
Cairo, Egypt - september 3, 2025, 7:24 PM - The Egyptian medical Syndicate today issued a statement clarifying recent remarks by the Minister of Health and Population regarding the provision of emergency medical services for a 48-hour period. The Syndicate emphasized that these services are not free, but are fully funded by the state’s treatment budget, a practise established under Prime Minister’s decision No. 1063 of 2014.
The clarification comes as a response to potential public misinterpretation of the term “free” when discussing emergency care. The Syndicate explained that the 2014 decision, rooted in Law No. 51 of 1981, mandates all university, private, and investment medical facilities to provide emergency and accident treatment for 48 hours without upfront cost to the patient. However, the state is legally obligated to cover the full cost of treatment from the designated ”treatment at the expense of the state” budget.
The Syndicate outlined three key points regarding the provision of these services:
- Service availability is persistent by the geographical scope assigned to each hospital, with potential patient transfer to other facilities after stabilization, coordinated with the Ministry of Health.
- Hospitals are prohibited from demanding pre-payment for emergency services, but are entitled to submit financial claims to the state – or the patient if not fully covered – after treatment is provided.
- The use of the term “free” can be misleading, as it implies a charitable offering rather than a state-funded service.
In light of this, the Medical Syndicate issued several demands:
A call for all doctors and health facilities to submit outstanding financial claims for emergency services previously rendered where state reimbursement has not been received.
The establishment of streamlined and expedited mechanisms for disbursing payments for emergency services to ensure continued high-quality care.
Increased state encouragement of private sector participation in providing healthcare, contingent on the reliable and timely payment of dues from the state treatment budget.
A public awareness campaign to correct the perception that emergency services are a “free grant” from healthcare facilities, emphasizing that they are state-funded.
The Syndicate affirmed its commitment to both protecting patients’ rights to emergency treatment and safeguarding the financial interests of healthcare providers,ensuring the long-term sustainability of emergency care services in Egypt.
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