The Egyptian health map: a guide for evidence-based decisionmaking

The Egyptian health system is characterized by the multiple entities in charge of service regulation, financing and provision. Moreover, health outcomes in Egypt mirror epidemiologic transition; increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and persistent high levels of selected communicable diseases (CDs) place a huge financial burden on the health system's limited resources. This together with financial inefficiencies aggravate inequality in health services coverage and health outcomes.

We aimed to map and link health services with key health outcomes to support efficient utilization of scarce resources and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Data on health services and health outcomes were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Population and key national surveys for the year 2014. Data on health services' availability and coverage were compared in different geographical regions. Correlation analysis was used to test the relation between selected service availability indicators and mortality rates from key NCDs.

There was a high coverage of key maternal and child health services. However, there was in general low achievement of national targets for service availability as well as wide geographical disparities. Cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of death and there was a marked reduction in the incidence of major CDs in Egypt, particularly vaccine preventable diseases.

Wide geographical disparities and increased burden of NCDs and their risk factors are identified as key challenges facing the healthcare system in Egypt. Priority setting in the light of these findings is crucial to support national efforts to attain health equity and UHC.