Evgeny Yudin
Author
Qualification: International Health Access Consultant
Post: Founder of Pillintrip.com
Company: Pillintrip.com – International Health and Travel
Added: July 9, 2025
Changed: July 9, 2025
Last updated: July 2025
If you're a refugee or asylum-seeker in Egypt, navigating the healthcare system can feel overwhelming – especially when your health and your family's wellbeing depend on it. This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how to access medical care in Egypt, from emergency services to ongoing treatment for chronic conditions.
Important Note: As of 2025, Egypt is experiencing a severe humanitarian funding crisis that has significantly impacted healthcare services for refugees. The lack of available funds has forced UNHCR to suspend all medical treatment for refugees in Egypt except emergency life-saving procedures, affecting around 20,000 patients. We'll cover both the current reality and available alternatives throughout this guide.
The Current Healthcare Landscape in Egypt
Egypt currently hosts more than 941,625 registered refugees and asylum-seekers from 61 nationalities, making it one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the region. Starting October 2023, the Sudanese nationality has become the top nationality, followed by Syrians, largely due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan that began in April 2023.
The challenges facing refugees in Egypt extend beyond healthcare alone. This video from Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung North Africa provides important context about the systemic issues affecting refugee communities across the region:
This broader understanding of refugee rights and systemic challenges helps explain why accessing healthcare can be so complicated. The issues you'll face aren't just about individual hospitals or clinics – they're part of larger structural challenges that affect refugee communities throughout North Africa.
How the Healthcare System Works
The healthcare system you'll encounter as a refugee operates on multiple levels:
- Government hospitals providing basic emergency care
- UNHCR partner organizations offering specialized refugee services
- Private healthcare facilities with higher quality but significant costs
- Community-based mental health support through various NGOs
Understanding how these interconnect – and knowing the current limitations – can literally be life-saving.
UNHCR Registration: Your Gateway to Medical Services
Why Registration Matters
Here's something crucial that many newcomers don't realize: to access the health services (الرعاية الصحية للاجئين في مصر) provided by UNHCR (المفوضية) partners (Mersal, and Save the Children) you need to be registered with UNHCR. This registration isn't just bureaucracy – it's your lifeline to affordable healthcare.
Ahmed, a Syrian refugee who arrived in Cairo in 2019, learned this the hard way. "I spent weeks trying to get medical care for my daughter's asthma, going from hospital to hospital. Nobody told me I needed to register with UNHCR first. Once I did, everything changed – suddenly I had access to clinics that could help us."
The Registration Process
UNHCR has been operational in Egypt since 1954 after the Government of Egypt and UNHCR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Since then, UNHCR has provided protection services including all aspects of registration, documentation, refugee status determination and resettlement.
What you'll need:
- Any identity documents from your home country
- Medical records (if available)
- Information about your family members
Where to go:
- UNHCR Egypt main building in Cairo
- Regional registration centers in other governorates
Important: You shall always contact UNHCR and book an appointment if you realize that your asylum seeker or refugee card or your asylum certificate has expired. You will still be able to receive services through UNHCR implementing healthcare partners (Mersal, and Save the Children) even with expired documents, but you need to renew them.
Government Hospital Services: What You Need to Know
Public Hospital Access
The good news is that [public hospitals](مستشفى حكومي - مستشفيات حكومية) provide basic life-saving emergency health services to Egyptians as well as refugees and asylum-seekers for free or at affordable cost. The challenging news? For advanced interventions or hospital admissions exceeding 24 hours, the hospital will require payment from Egyptians and non-Egyptians alike.
This 24-hour rule is something many refugees discover too late. Fatima, a Sudanese mother of three, explains: "My son broke his arm, and the emergency treatment was free. But when they wanted to keep him overnight for observation, suddenly we needed to pay. I had to choose between his care and our rent money."
Ministry of Health Services
There's actually more available than many people realize. The health ministry provides family medicine through a vast network of primary health care units, covering nearly every neighborhood and village. These facilities offer acute and chronic illness care, vaccinations, contraceptive services, and antenatal care, with consultations, basic tests, and prescriptions provided free of charge.
Key point: Public health facilities such as Ministry of Health and Population Primary healthcare facilities do not check UNHCR cards to offer primary health care services and the same applies to emergency room services. This means you can access basic care even without registration.
Specialized Government Services
The Ministry of Health provides some specialized services that many refugees don't know about:
- HIV and TB treatment: Ministry of Health and Population provides treatment for HIV and TB for free to refugees and asylum-seekers in specialized hospitals
- Medical advice hotline: The Ministry of Health and Population provides further advice and support for persons with critical health needs through phone number 16474
UNHCR Partner Organizations: Your Primary Support Network
Mersal Clinics: Your First Stop for Non-Emergency Care
Contact information:
- Hotline: 0221206845
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week
- Important: Call Mersal before heading to their headquarters
The Mersal system works differently than what you might expect from a hospital. You'll need to call first, get an appointment, and then receive subsidized (not free) medications and tests. It's affordable, but not completely free.
Save the Children: Critical Care Support
When government hospitals demand payment and you're facing a serious medical emergency, Save the Children can be your lifeline. UNHCR partner Save the Children pays for hospital care for persons with serious medical conditions.
Emergency contact numbers:
- 01280770146
- 01280769456
- 01064833320
However, there's a critical update: The suspensions include cancer surgery, chemotherapy, heart surgery and medication for chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension due to the 2025 funding crisis.
Refuge Egypt: Women's Health Specialists
UNHCR health care partner Refuge Egypt provide free health services for women with complicated or high-risk pregnancies. They also offer additional related services such as testing and counselling and treatment of opportunistic infections, particularly for HIV-related care.
Emergency Medical Services: When Every Second Counts
Emergency Contact Numbers
For medical emergencies, call 123 (الطوارئ الطبية - طوارئ طبية) – To get ambulance transport to the nearest MOHP hospital, call phone number 123. This is Egypt's equivalent of 911.
But here's what many expat guides won't tell you: As Egypt is going through a period of economic instability, expats may find that the country's ambulance services are limited. Ambulance services in the country are said to be not so reliable, and emergency or intensive care services tend to be limited.
The reality? The best way to reach hospitals is by personal transportation or taxi as practiced by most Egyptians. This isn't ideal, but it's the current situation.
Alternative Emergency Contacts
Egypt has been rolling out a new unified emergency number: 112. The hotline will offer police, ambulance, and other rescue and support services. You can call the number in case of emergencies, such as a car accident, home fire, serious medical emergency, or security concern. However, implementation is still ongoing and the service should be available in each of the 27 governorates of the country, but coverage varies.
Mental Health and Psychological Support: Breaking the Silence
PSTIC: 24/7 Crisis Support
Mental health challenges are incredibly common among refugees – and there's no shame in seeking help. PSTIC has a range of mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) available around the clock.
24/7 Emergency helplines:
- 01127777404
- 01110866333
- 01127777005
What PSTIC Offers
The range of services is broader than you might expect:
- Crisis intervention: In any emergency involving protection, health, mental health or other issues call the PSTIC Helpline 24/7 to be connected with a person available for immediate home or community response
- Counseling services: Mental Health Clinics and Counseling Center: Psychiatrists, psychologists and refugee counselors (طبيب - الصحة النفسية) offer confidential counseling and therapy for families, couples, youth, children, adults and groups in easily accessible offices in Garden City, Nasr City and 6 October City
- Specialized programs: Substance Abuse Program: A trained team offers treatment for substance abusers and support for their families, and community awareness raising
Government Mental Health Services
Egypt has been expanding mental health services, though with varying quality across regions. The electronic platform offers free online counselling and psychoeducational virtual services for mental health and addiction treatment for everyone living in Egypt, including refugees and migrants.
Important note: All services provided by UNHCR and its partners are free of charge!
Chronic Disease Management: The Current Crisis
The Reality of Chronic Conditions
Syrian refugees have significant health needs with a high prevalence of chronic conditions including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and disability and cardiac diseases. This pattern holds true for refugees from other countries as well.
Impact of the 2025 Funding Crisis
Here's where the current situation becomes particularly challenging. The suspensions include cancer surgery, chemotherapy, heart surgery and medication for chronic diseases (الأمراض المزمنة) such as diabetes and hypertension.
Abdelazim, a Sudanese refugee with heart disease, shares his experience: After registering with UNHCR in Cairo shortly after their arrival, Abdelazim was referred to the agency's health partner and diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease. But with the funding cuts, his ongoing treatment is now uncertain.
What's Still Available
Despite the crisis, some services continue:
- Emergency life-saving procedures: Still covered by UNHCR partners
- Government facilities: These facilities offer acute and chronic illness care, vaccinations, contraceptive services, and antenatal care, with consultations, basic tests, and prescriptions provided free of charge
- Community health workers: UNHCR trains refugee community health workers to engage with refugees, diagnosing and treating common illnesses (such as diarrhoea and malaria), making referrals and following up with pregnant women, newborns and people living with chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes and hypertension)
Medical Insurance: The Difficult Reality
Current Insurance Landscape
The truth about medical insurance for refugees in Egypt is sobering. Foreigners in Egypt should be prepared to pay for healthcare services at private hospitals and healthcare facilities. If you don't have private insurance or sufficient funds to pay for your care, you likely won't be treated.
Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure is the primary healthcare financing source in Egypt, representing more than 60% of total health expenditure. This affects everyone, but particularly impacts refugees who often have limited financial resources.
The New Universal Health Insurance System
Egypt is implementing a new universal healthcare system, but by 2027, all Egyptian citizens will have access to a new universal healthcare system, which will not include most expats. This means refugees will likely continue to be excluded from national insurance coverage.
Funding Crisis Impact: What Changed in 2025
The Scale of the Problem
Without adequate resources, an estimated 12.8 million displaced people, including 6.3 million children, could be left without life-saving health interventions in 2025, according to UNHCR's global assessment.
What This Means for You
UNHCR's Deputy Representative in Egypt, Marti Romero, explains the situation: "The needs of refugees fleeing Sudan are growing by the day, but funding is not keeping pace. Egypt is under immense strain, and essential services are being pushed to the limit. Without immediate international action, both refugees and host communities will face even greater hardship."
Alternative Resources During the Crisis
While official services are limited, some alternatives exist:
- Egyptian Red Crescent: UNHCR helps the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza and supports medical evacuees in Egypt through the Ministry of Health
- Religious organizations: Many mosques and churches also operate their own subsidized or free clinics, especially in the large cities
- Community networks: Refugee communities often organize informal support systems
Special Populations: Tailored Support
Women's Health Services
UNHCR health care partner Refuge Egypt provide free health services for women with complicated or high-risk pregnancies. This includes comprehensive reproductive health services and gender-based violence support.
Children's Healthcare
Refugee children are also at very high risk to be "zero-dose" (no immunization) or under-immunized. The good news is that UNHCR promotes that all new refugee arrivals under 15 years old immediately receive measles, polio and tetanus toxoid vaccines.
Elderly and Disabled Refugees
Recognizing the needs of people with disability, UNHCR works with partners to facilitate access to assistive technology and rehabilitation, though services are limited.
Practical Navigation Tips
Preparing for Medical Visits
Documentation to bring:
- UNHCR registration card (valid or expired)
- Any medical records from your home country
- List of current medications
- Emergency contact information
Language considerations: Communicating in English won't be an issue, as medical staff in private healthcare are generally bilingual, but government facilities primarily operate in Arabic.
Managing Costs
Remember to always bring some cash to receive immediate medical treatment, as some hospitals ignore and refuse insurance cards and will ask for out of pocket payments.
Cost-saving strategies:
- Use government primary healthcare units for routine care
- Call UNHCR partners before seeking private care
- Build relationships with community health workers
- Keep emergency funds specifically for medical needs
Looking Forward: Advocacy and Hope
Current Advocacy Efforts
What You Can Do
While waiting for policy changes:
- Stay connected with refugee community networks
- Keep your UNHCR registration current
- Build relationships with local healthcare providers
- Document your medical needs and experiences
- Advocate collectively for improved services
Emergency Preparedness: Essential Information
Keep These Numbers Handy
Emergency Services:
- Ambulance: 123
- Medical advice: 16474
- New unified emergency: 112 (where available)
UNHCR Partners:
- Mersal: 0221206845
- Save the Children: 01280770146, 01280769456, 01064833320
- PSTIC 24/7: 01127777404
Critical Reminders
- Registration is key: Most specialized services require UNHCR registration
- Emergency care is available: Government hospitals must provide life-saving care
- Mental health support exists: 24/7 hotlines are available
- Funding cuts are temporary: International pressure continues for restoration
- Community support matters: Build networks before you need them
Final Thoughts
Navigating healthcare as a refugee in Egypt requires patience, persistence, and knowledge of the system. While the 2025 funding crisis has created significant challenges, emergency services remain available, and community support networks continue to function.
Remember: seeking healthcare isn't just about treating illness – it's about maintaining hope and building a foundation for your future. Every refugee who successfully navigates this system makes it easier for others who follow.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information based on available resources as of July 2025. Always verify current service availability and consult with healthcare professionals for specific medical advice. In medical emergencies, seek immediate care regardless of documentation or payment concerns.
Important Arabic Terms for Healthcare
When seeking medical care in Egypt, these Arabic terms may be helpful:
- الرعاية الصحية للاجئين في مصر - Healthcare for refugees in Egypt
- المفوضية - UNHCR
- مستشفى حكومي - Government hospital
- طبيب - Doctor
- طوارئ طبية - Medical emergency
- الصحة النفسية - Mental health
- الأمراض المزمنة - Chronic diseases
- دواء - Medicine
- موعد - Appointment
- تأمين صحي - Health insurance
This article was compiled from official UNHCR reports, government sources, and refugee community experiences. For the most current information, visit the UNHCR Egypt website or contact their offices directly.
