Health

All services provided by UNHCR and its partners are free of charge!

I am ill and need health care. Where can I get it?

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) is granting access to refugees and asylum-seekers to all health services provided in its facilities on par with Egyptian citizens. It means that for most conditions you can go to a public primary health care facility and receive care there for free or at an affordable cost.

I am in need of preventative health services like vaccinations for my children or a check-up of my pregnancy. Where can I go?

Such services are provided for free of charge or at affordable cost in public primary health care facilities for Egyptian citizens as well as for refugees and asylum-seekers.

In case of a medical emergency – what should I do?

Public hospitals provide basic life-saving emergency health services to Egyptians as well as refugees and asylum-seekers for free or at affordable cost. However, for advanced interventions or hospital admissions exceeding 24 hours, the hospital will require payment from Egyptians and non-Egyptians alike. To get ambulance transport to the nearest MOHP hospital, call phone number 123. The Ministry of Health and Population provides further advice and support for persons with critical health needs through phone number 16474.

I have a chronic condition, but I can’t get help at the public primary health care facility or I can’t afford the medicines. What can I do?

UNHCR health care partner Mersal has clinics in Greater Cairo. At these clinics, you can get free consultations, prescriptions for subsidized medications, and referrals for subsidized diagnostic tests.
Call Mersal before heading to their headquarters on the hotline: 0221206845 available all week from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

I am pregnant and in need of specialist check-ups due to health risks for me and/or my baby. Where should I go?

UNHCR health care partner Refuge Egypt provide free health services for women with complicated or high-risk pregnancies. (See contact details below).

I need hospital care but cannot afford it. What should I do?

  • UNHCR partner Save the Children pays for hospital care for persons with serious medical conditions.
  • In case of emergencies please call the Save the Children hotline: 01280770146, 01280769456 or 01064833320.

I am in need of health services related to HIV and/or TB-infection. Where can I get it?

  • Ministry of Health and Population provides treatment for HIV and TB for free to refugees and asylum-seekers in specialized hospitals. For further information you can call the HIV hotline: 01100666471
  • UNHCR partner Refuge Egypt provides additional related services such as testing and counselling and treatment of opportunistic infections. (See contact details below).

Do I need to be registered with UNHCR to access health services?

  • Public health facilities such as Ministry of Health and Population Primary healthcare facilities do not check UNHCR cards to offer primary health care services and the same applies to emergency room services in Ministry of Health and Population.
  • However, to access the above-described health services provided by UNHCR partners (Mersal, and Save the Children) you need to be registered with UNHCR.

Will I still be able to access UNHCR services if my UNHCR card has expired or I have lost it?

  • You shall always contact UNHCR and book an appointment if you realize that your asylum seeker or refugee card or your asylum certificate has expired.
  • You will still be able to receive services through UNHCR implementing healthcare partners (Mersal, and Save the Children)
  • If you are not a holder of any of these cards, valid or expired, or your case has been closed, you will not be able to access the above-described services through UNHCR implementing partners.

Contacts

Mersal (Greater Cairo)

Hotline: 0221206845.
Every day: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Refuge Egypt (only in Cairo)

  •  Zamalek

Address: 5 Michel Lotfallah St., (behind Marriott Hotel)

Phone number: 012 7204 0710

  • Nasr City

Address: Building ”Maktab El Tamween”, Street Market, 10th District

Phone number: 012 1197 0028

  • 6 October

Address: 48 El Mehwar El Markazi St., Episcopal Church, 10th District

Phone number: 012 1197 0037