🇪🇬 Egypt Healthcare Guide
Cairo has strong private hospitals — As-Salam International and Dar Al Fouad are well-equipped and accustomed to treating international patients — and the private sector in Alexandria and Hurghada is also developed. Outside the main cities and tourist hubs, healthcare is more basic, particularly in Upper Egypt and the Sinai. English is spoken in most private hospitals in Cairo, but having your medication list with generic names saved and accessible speeds up pharmacy visits where brand names differ from what you're used to.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 123
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $15 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: medium
Healthcare overview
Cairo’s private hospitals (As-Salam International, Dar Al Fouad, Cairo University Hospitals) provide strong specialist care at moderate prices, and Egypt is a growing medical tourism destination for dental and cosmetic procedures. Alexandria has adequate private facilities. Tourist areas (Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Luxor, Aswan) have clinics geared toward visitors, but serious cases transfer to Cairo. Upper Egypt and Sinai have more limited access. GP visits at private clinics cost $15–40.
Medical tourism destination
Egypt attracts medical tourists for dental work, cosmetic surgery, and ophthalmology, with Cairo’s private hospitals offering competitive pricing.
Tourist area clinics
Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada have clinics experienced with tourist care, including a hyperbaric chamber in Sharm for diving emergencies.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Egyptian pharmacies are abundant, affordable, and many medications available by prescription elsewhere are sold over the counter. Pharmacists in tourist areas often speak English. Having your medication list accessible helps pharmacists match Egyptian brands, which follow their own naming conventions.
Relaxed OTC availability
Egypt has permissive OTC rules. Many medications requiring prescriptions in Europe are available directly from pharmacy counters.
Tips for travellers
Cairo’s private hospitals cover comprehensive specialist care at prices well below European equivalents. Dar Al Fouad and As-Salam International have international patient departments. For the most complex conditions, Amman (Jordan) or Istanbul offer the nearest upgrades. Having your treatment history accessible in English or Arabic helps Egyptian specialists continue your care directly.
Sharm el-Sheikh hyperbaric chamber
Sharm el-Sheikh has a hyperbaric chamber for dive emergencies, unusual for a tourist resort town. Divers should know its location before diving.