El Gouna Hospital Membership Card
When I visited my dentist in the El Gouna Hospital the other day, I noticed a sign at the cashier’s desk telling visitors that starting from January 1st, 2006, an El Gouna Hospital membership card is required to continue the Egyptian pricelevel in the Hospital for residents. As residents know, up till now, a valid owner card would reduce the hospital bill by an important factor, compared to prices normal tourists will pay here.
Today I got a call from another resident who was not aware of the new system, and he told me that residents have not been informed about it. That’s why I enquired once more at the Hospital this afternoon and got the confirmation that the new Hospital Membership Card can be issued for each member of a resident’s family: each card will cost an annual fee of 405 LE or 60 EUR. A passphoto is required when applying for the card.
January 17th, 2006 at 10:01
With regard to the Hospital ‘membership’ I would like to clarify for you a couple of points, the ‘membership’ that they are offering to you is NOT Egyptian rate at all. With your membership you will pay the 60 euro membership (per year) + 40 LE per consultation, however if you are Egyptian you will pay 120LE membership + 20LE per consultation. or choose not to make a membership, then pay 40LE per consultation.
The real residents of El Gouna, ie people who are legally living and working here (having work permit or residency visa), or are married here (officially) still have to pay the foreigner rates.
I am here living and working, married with an Egyptian, and with 5 years residency visa in my passport as well as work permit, and a son, who of course has a dual nationality, and personally I find it unfair that for myself I have to pay 60 euro membership, but for my husband and son 120LE membership.
Many other legal residents here are also offended by this, since we are taking salaries like any other Egyptian doing the same job, but we have to pay almost 4 times the amount for hospital ‘membership’ and double for consultation fees.
With this in mind I suggest to residents to try using Hospitals in Hurghada, such as Red Sea hospital, or the new one near the airport, since at least in these places they are honouring the fact that we are official residents.