There are very few General Practitioners/Family Doctors in Egypt. Most doctors are specialists. Doctors may practice in their own private clinic, a group clinic or in a hospital outpatient department, or all three! Unfamiliarity with the system, cultural considerations, and language barriers can make it difficult to find a doctor that suits your needs.
Tips for Choosing a Doctor
CSA provides a
quick reference list of medical resources that you may need in the first few weeks.
However, it is recommended that once settled you do your own research to find health care resources that suit you and yoru family.
- Get to know your local facilities and resources as soon as possible after arriving.
- You may choose to schedule check ups with specialists (such as ongoing management of a disease) and sensitive routine test and procedures (such as mammograms and pap smears) during your home leave, but everyone needs a primary care doctor on location to take care of day-to-day problems that arise.
- Seek recommendations from friends and/or your company.
- Check claims of overseas training or licensure carefully.
- Feel comfortable picking and choosing your physician. It is an acceptable practice for you to determine who will best meet your health care needs.
- Just like anything if at first you don’t succeed, try again by going to a different doctor.
- Do not be afraid to get a second opinion if the diagnosis or treatment concerns you.
Tips for Visiting the Doctor:
- Most doctors receive patients in their offices or clinics late afternoons and evenings and may only work certain evenings of the week.
- If the contact number you have is unanswered during the day try in the afternoon or evening.
- Many doctors will be open to making home visits for very affordable rates.
- You are expected to pay when treated unless your doctor has an agreement with your insurance company. Ask when you make the appointment what to expect to pay.
- The system of an allocated appointment time may not be applied. Sometimes the first person to arrive is the first served, however clinics that deal with a lot of expats more often stick to appointment times.
- It is cultural to take someone along for moral support when you visit the doctor. Take your partner or a friend with you. This is particularly important if the examination might require removal of clothing.
- It is common for few records to be kept but this varies between doctors. One strategy is to make a summary of your medical history and then take “your file” with you to the appointment. Keep copies of your reports and prescriptions. This is especially prudent if you re-locate regularly.
- Most of the doctors speak English, but their assistants/receptionists may not.
- Ask questions politely and respectfully. In Egyptian culture the doctor is rarely expected to give detailed explanations to the patient. Let the doctor know what you expect so he/she can best meet your needs.
- Lab tests requested by the doctor can be performed by the lab of your choice. Take the results back to the doctor to discuss them.
- Be prepared for the doctor to arrive late! Leave yourself enough time around your appointment that this will not create stress for you. This tip is the same for visiting a doctor anywhere in the world.
- During Ramadan, clinic hours may change.
- It may be difficult to get an appointment from Thursday evening to Saturday evening.