Egypt pivots to medical tourism
An Egyptian pharmaceutical company launched a campaign that highlights low-cost treatment to hepatitis C patients from all over the world as part of efforts to promote medical tourism to the country.
“Tour n’ Cure, what are you waiting for?” With these words, English journalist and documentary filmmaker Tim Coleman ended a video message June 12, in which he relays his journey to being treated for the hepatitis C virus in Egypt, after having contracted it over 30 years ago.
Coleman said in the video that his particular treatment in England with what are being called revolutionary drugs would cost 120,000 British pounds (roughly $152,000) and that he has sought to get free treatment from the English National Health Service (NHS), but still has not received it. He said that during a trip to Cairo, he saw the Tour n’ Cure campaign ad and found out that the Egyptian campaign offers a complete course of hepatitis C medication for no more than 1,200 pounds ($1,500).
