On June 4th, a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Egypt’s Healthcare Authority and Entlaq, a consulting and strategic studies firm, at the Authority’s headquarters in Cairo. Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky, Chairman of the Egypt Healthcare Authority and General Supervisor of the Universal Health Insurance Project, witnessed the event, highlighting the country’s commitment to advancing digital transformation and innovation in healthcare. This partnership aligns with Egypt’s broader national vision to enhance its global standing in medical tourism and health technology.
Vision to Build a Technology-Driven Healthcare System
Dr. El-Sobky emphasized that the collaboration reflects the Authority’s forward-thinking approach to creating a healthcare system rooted in technology and innovation. The agreement aims to foster a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and startups, particularly focusing on healthtech and therapeutic tourism sectors. By leveraging Entlaq’s extensive network of partners and experts, the Authority plans to expand cooperation with private sector investors and generate tangible health innovation outcomes.
Positioning Egypt as a Regional Medical Hub
A key ambition behind the partnership is to establish Egypt as a regional center for medical excellence and therapeutic tourism. Dr. El-Sobky highlighted the integration of advanced care models with strong technological infrastructure as essential to achieving this goal. By utilizing the Authority’s internationally accredited facilities alongside Entlaq’s expertise, the initiative intends to elevate Egypt’s reputation on the medical tourism map.
Entlaq’s Role in Driving Data-Driven Healthcare Solutions
Mohamed Ehab Hafez, CEO of Entlaq, described the MoU as a pivotal step toward building a more innovative and effective healthcare system. He outlined that the collaboration’s initial output will be a comprehensive report analyzing Egypt’s healthtech sector, identifying system gaps, and serving as a knowledge base for policymakers and investors. This data-driven approach is designed to facilitate informed decision-making and foster the development of targeted healthtech solutions.
Launching a National Program for Digital Health Innovation
Beyond research, the partnership plans to initiate a national program focused on developing practical and innovative digital health solutions. Hafez emphasized the importance of merging research with innovation enablement to position Egypt as a top medical tourism destination. With over 40 internationally accredited hospitals offering cost-effective treatment compared to Europe and the U.S., Egypt aims to attract 500,000 medical tourists annually by 2025.
Signatories and Key Participants in the Agreement
The MoU was officially signed by Dr. Shady Farhat, Head of the Authority’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit, and Mohamed Ehab Hafez, CEO of Entlaq. Several senior officials from both entities attended, including key figures from the Authority’s executive and strategic management teams as well as Entlaq’s co-founders and program directors. Their presence underscores the collaborative effort and high-level commitment behind this strategic initiative.
Shared Strategic Goals for Healthcare Innovation
The MoU outlines multiple objectives such as integrating health technologies, supporting healthtech startups, and fostering collaboration among academia, civil society, and the private sector. Both parties are committed to accelerating the adoption of technological initiatives while promoting international knowledge exchange and best practices tailored to Egypt’s healthcare context. The agreement also aims to ensure sustainability in healthtech growth through long-term strategies that balance economic viability and environmental considerations.
Economic Growth and Job Creation through Medical Tourism
Strengthening Egypt’s position as a medical tourism hub is a core goal of this partnership, leveraging the country’s internationally accredited healthcare institutions. The collaboration seeks to combine medical services with Egypt’s rich cultural heritage to offer a unique patient experience that attracts global visitors. Ultimately, this initiative is expected to stimulate economic growth, create jobs in both health and tourism sectors, and open new opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures to scale.
The MoU between Egypt’s Healthcare Authority and Entlaq marks a strategic milestone in advancing the country’s healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship landscape. By focusing on technology integration, startup support, and medical tourism, the partnership aims to build a sustainable and globally competitive healthcare ecosystem. This collaboration reflects Egypt’s commitment to transforming its health sector into a regional leader in innovation and excellence.