Healthcare in Egypt for Expats, Hospitals, Pharmacies, Insurance

Ambulance and emergency numbers

To call an ambulance in Egypt, dial 123. The head of the Egyptian Ambulance Authority says emergency calls are free: accidents, acute conditions and transport to the nearest hospital. Non-emergency transfers, for example taking a patient to a checkup, can be paid.

Be ready to explain your address in Arabic. Save it on your phone in Arabic with a landmark, and if you are not sure of your Arabic, ask a neighbor, the building doorman or a passerby to call for you. Other useful numbers:

• 122, police.
• 180, fire service.
• 126, tourist police.

Public and university hospitals

Foreigners can be treated in public hospitals. Large university hospitals, such as Kasr Al Ainy of Cairo University, the Ain Shams University hospitals and the Al-Hussein University Hospital of Al-Azhar, handle the most complex cases, and treatment there usually costs less than in private clinics.

There are downsides too: queues, crowded wards and everything in Arabic. Bring someone who speaks Arabic, your passport, a copy of your residence permit and money for tests and medicines.

Al-Azhar students should ask the foreign students administration or their faculty in advance what medical care they are entitled to. For scholarship holders, medical care is often part of the scholarship terms.

Private clinics and hospitals

Most foreigners use the private sector: it is faster and staff are more likely to speak English. Cairo and Hurghada have both small private clinics and large general hospitals.

Private hospitals usually ask for payment or a deposit before treatment, beyond the first minutes needed to stabilize a patient. If you have insurance, find out in advance whether the hospital bills your company directly, otherwise you will pay yourself and then claim a refund.

The state does not publish rates for private consultations, so ask for a written estimate before admission or surgery. In resort towns be careful with hotel doctors: the British Foreign Office warns that some of them overcharge, and pharmacies outside hotels are often cheaper.

Pharmacies and medicines without a prescription

Egypt has a great many pharmacies, many of them open around the clock and delivering to your home. A pharmacist can suggest something for a cold or an upset stomach, and many medicines are sold without a prescription. But there are important exceptions:

• Antibiotics. Under a decision of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), reserve antibiotics are dispensed only in hospitals, and for the rest the regulator has set a course toward prescription only sales. Do not take antibiotics «just in case» or without a doctor.
• Medicines that can be misused. In July 2026 the EDA introduced rules for a number of psychiatric, sleep and anticonvulsant drugs: prescription only and no more than one month of supply at a time.
• Price. Medicine prices are set by the state, shown on the box or available via a QR code, and a pharmacy must not charge more. Complaints go to the EDA hotline 15301.
• Fakes. Buy medicines at pharmacies, not from random sellers on social media: in 2026 the EDA warned about counterfeit packs of popular antibiotics.

Bringing your own medicines

If you take a medicine regularly, bring a supply from home. In Egypt, show the pharmacist the box or the international name of the active ingredient, because brand names here are often different.

Keep in mind that some prescription and even over the counter medicines are controlled substances in Egypt. The British Foreign Office warns that without permission from the Egyptian Ministry of Health or the required documents, such medicines may be refused entry and their owner may face prosecution. Carry medicines in their original packaging with a prescription or a letter from your doctor stating the diagnosis and dosage, and if in doubt, check the rules with an Egyptian embassy or consulate before you travel.

Health insurance for students and expats

Egypt is introducing universal health insurance in stages, governorate by governorate. The first phase covers Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, South Sinai, Luxor and Aswan, and the second is only beginning: a trial launch started in Minya in September 2026. Cairo and Hurghada are not on these lists yet, Cairo is planned to be among the last, and the system does not automatically cover foreigners.

That is why most expats and students rely on private insurance or pay themselves. Before buying, check which clinics accept the policy without upfront payment, the limits and the exclusions: chronic conditions, pregnancy and dental care are often not included in basic policies. The main options:

• A policy from a local Egyptian insurer. Usually cheaper and works with a network of local clinics.
• International health insurance. More expensive, but it can cover treatment in different countries and medical evacuation.
• Corporate insurance, if you work for an Egyptian company that has enrolled you.
• Medical care under your scholarship terms, if you are a scholarship holder. For what it does not cover, you can add an inexpensive private policy.

How to find a Russian-speaking doctor

The easiest way is through recommendations: ask fellow expats, senior students or colleagues who they see. In Hurghada, with its many Russian-speaking tourists, some private clinics, especially hotel clinics, have Russian-speaking staff, but check in advance whether the doctor personally speaks Russian.

If you cannot find such a doctor, bring an interpreter or a friend who speaks Arabic or English. Write down your symptoms, allergies and medicines in English beforehand, which makes the conversation much easier.

Check that the clinic is licensed, and ask for a receipt and a medical report in English. They will be useful both for your insurer and for your doctor back home.

How Tullab can help

In medical supplies people sell blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, nebulizers and other health products, and other offers are collected in beauty and health. Do not buy medicines second hand, only at a pharmacy.

An interpreter who can go to the doctor with you can be found in documents, visas, translations. And if you help fellow expats with interpreting at clinics, post a free ad.