Egypt expands mental health services in Universal Health Insurance facilities

EGYPT—The Egyptian Healthcare Authority has delivered more than 330,000 mental health support, counselling, and referral services through 227 primary healthcare facilities operating under the first phase of Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance system.

The services were provided across family medicine centres and health units in Port Said, Luxor, Ismailia, South Sinai, Suez, and Aswan, as the country continues to strengthen access to mental healthcare in community-based settings.

Ahmed El-Sobky, chairperson of the authority, said integrating mental health services into primary healthcare facilities remains a central component of Egypt’s broader strategy to achieve comprehensive healthcare coverage.

He explained that the approach allows patients to access psychological care closer to their homes while reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Counselling and referral services expanded

According to the authority, more than 223,000 counselling and psychological assessment services were provided during the reporting period.

These evaluations helped medical teams assess patients’ conditions and determine the most appropriate support plans or referral pathways.

In addition, healthcare providers delivered over 93,150 psychological support and counselling sessions for patients requiring specialised interventions within primary care settings.

The authority also strengthened its integrated referral system for psychiatric cases through coordinated pathways tailored to patients’ individual needs.

Under the system, 2,100 cases were referred to Egypt’s psychological support hotline 16328, while 1,625 patients were directed to the national electronic mental health and addiction treatment platform.

Another 1,390 cases were transferred to specialised mental health clinics, with severe or advanced conditions referred to tertiary psychiatric and addiction treatment hospitals.

El-Sobky noted that the expansion of mental health services supports earlier detection of psychological disorders and helps reduce complications associated with delayed care.

He added that the initiative also lowers the financial and emotional burden on families by enabling patients to receive services through nearby healthcare centres rather than travelling to specialised hospitals.

Training and digital integration support expansion

To support the programme, the authority continues to train doctors, nurses, and frontline healthcare workers in psychological assessment, counselling, and case management using updated scientific protocols.

The training efforts align with wider national reforms aimed at improving the quality and consistency of mental healthcare services across Egypt.

The authority also highlighted the integration of Port Said Psychiatric Hospital into its healthcare network, describing the move as a significant step toward strengthening specialised mental health services.

The hospital now supports comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term patient follow-up.

Recent developments in Egypt’s mental healthcare sector have further reinforced these efforts.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health and Population announced that Port Said Psychiatric Hospital became the first facility under the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment to receive accreditation from the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR).

Officials said the accreditation reflected improvements in patient safety, governance, and clinical quality standards.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s Ministry of Health recently intensified oversight of psychiatric and addiction treatment facilities nationwide, closing dozens of unlicensed centres and increasing inspections to protect patient safety and improve service quality.