Egypt faces medical brain drain, govern’t addresses workforce shortages: Min.

CAIRO – 7 June 2026: Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar announced that Egypt is facing a medical brain drain, but the government is working to address any shortages in healthcare personnel by providing financial incentives.

In media comments to Al-Hekaya T.V. program on MBC Misr, Abdel Ghaffar noted that the migration of doctors represents a major challenge. “We currently graduate around 13,000 doctors annually, and this number may rise to 22,000 following the expansion of private universities,” he said.

On April 4, 2026, the state-owned Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) issued a report marking World Health Day, revealing the number of medical personnel working in Egypt in 2024.

According to the data, the total number of doctors working in government hospitals reached 120,400 in 2024, compared to 122,400 in 2023, representing a decline of 1.7 percent. The total number of dentists increased to 43,700 in 2024 from 39,500 in 2023, marking a 10.6 percent rise.

In private hospitals, the total number of doctors and dentists reached 35,600 in 2024, up from 34,900 in 2023, reflecting an increase of 2.1 percent. The number of nursing staff also rose to 24,500 in 2024, compared to 22,500 in 2023, an increase of 9 percent.

Last year, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated during a weekly Cabinet press conference that the migration of Egyptian medical professionals to other countries should not necessarily be viewed as a loss for Egypt. He noted that these professionals contribute to the economy through expatriate remittances, which remain one of the country's key sources of foreign currency.

Madbouly also highlighted the growing number of graduates from medical faculties, which helps meet both domestic and international demand for healthcare professionals. He added that the main concern is ensuring that Egypt maintains sufficient medical staff to meet local healthcare needs.

On April 15, the Egyptian Medical Syndicate issued a statement attributing the exodus of medical professionals to low salaries, poor working conditions, repeated incidents of assaults against healthcare workers, inadequate hospital insurance coverage, and a lack of professional and moral recognition.

In Egypt, the salary of a medical intern does not exceed LE 2,800 per month, while a resident physician earns around LE 7,000 monthly. In contrast, according to a statement issued by the syndicate on February 22, 2023, a resident physician holding a Bachelor's degree in Medicine and working in Saudi Arabia can earn a maximum monthly salary of 8,050 Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately LE 66,000.

For a resident physician holding a diploma of at least one year's duration, the maximum monthly salary rises to 13,120 Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately LE 107,000.

The statement further noted that a deputy physician (specialist) holding a master's degree, obtained after at least two years of study following a Bachelor's degree in Medicine, can earn a maximum monthly salary of 16,835 Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately LE 137,000. Meanwhile, a deputy physician (specialist) holding a doctorate, earned after at least three years after graduation, can receive a maximum monthly salary of 18,705 Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately LE 152,000.

More recently, the government announced that it is working to increase the salaries of doctors employed within the Comprehensive Health Insurance System by up to six times, according to a report by Extra News on June 2, 2026.

A debate emerged in Parliament in 2025 after a lawmaker proposed requiring medical school graduates to reimburse the state for the cost of their education and training at Egyptian universities and hospitals, or alternatively remain in the country for a specified period, ranging from three to five years, before being allowed to work abroad.

However, the proposal was met with strong opposition from other lawmakers, physicians, and social media users, who argued that such measures would be unconstitutional and would infringe upon citizens' right to work and travel freely.