CAIRO — The Egyptian parliament passed a controversial comprehensive health insurance bill on Dec. 18, less than two months after its referral by the Cabinet, without substantive amendment. The bill is to enter into force on June 30, and its provisions gradually implemented over 15 years, starting off in Port Said governorate.
The rushed approval of the measure comes ahead of the presidential election scheduled for early 2018 and the expected candidacy of the incumbent president. Health Minister Ahmed Emad told Al-Monitor, “The draft law received wide support and continuous follow-up by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi until it was approved.”