Heiba made the announcement during his participation in
the third edition of the Global Conference on Population, Health, and Human
Development, organized by the Ministry of Health and Population.
Heiba and Dr. Mohamed Karar, Chairman and Managing
Director of Maxim Investment Group, signed a contract in 2024 to develop and
operate the Naya Wellness Resort within the investment zone in El Saf City. The
resort will be the first of its kind to promote medical tourism in Egypt,
supporting the state’s plan to enhance investment in the healthcare sector.
He highlighted that investment opportunities in medical
tourism are highly attractive, as the sector combines the competitive
advantages of both tourism and healthcare, both of which are experiencing
growing domestic and international demand. He noted that the main challenge has
been obtaining multiple licenses. To address this, the Investment Zones
Authority acts on behalf of investors to secure necessary permits and is
working with other government sectors to operate a unified licensing platform.
This platform will allow all licenses from 42 government entities to be issued
within 20 working days.
Heiba added that the Authority promotes healthcare
investment opportunities during international promotional tours and supports
startups in developing innovative solutions to improve services related to
medical tourism.
He also emphasized that countries with aging populations,
such as Japan and European Union members, are keen to establish medical and
wellness tourism facilities in Egypt to serve their citizens, who consider
Egypt one of the world’s top tourist destinations.
Karar stated that Maxim Group aims to launch a
comprehensive medical tourism system, covering a visitor’s journey from arrival
in Egypt to departure. This requires continuous efforts to build expertise in
the field and support from all relevant government agencies.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, official spokesperson for the
Ministry of Health and Population, announced that the unified electronic
platform for health tourism, launched alongside the global conference, will
allow applicants to apply for medical tourism visas to Egypt, with responses
issued within a maximum of 72 hours.
Dr. Heba Safwat Abdel Razek, General Manager of Elixir
Clinic in the United Arab Emirates, said that Egypt has all the necessary
elements to become a regional leader in medical tourism, thanks to its skilled
workforce, diverse climate and geography, and strong infrastructure.