The £8–£16 GP consultation figure gets quoted often in expat circles. What it actually means — and what private healthcare in Hurghada can and cannot do for you — is more nuanced than that single number suggests.
This is the honest picture, based on what long-term British residents in Hurghada actually experience.
Hurghada has a functioning private hospital sector that has grown substantially over the past decade to serve both the international tourism trade and the permanent expat community. The main facilities used by British residents include:
Hurghada International Hospital (HIH): The largest facility, with 24-hour emergency care, most surgical specialties, and on-site diagnostics. Used by much of the expat community for anything beyond routine consultations.
El Salam Hospital: Smaller, popular for outpatient care and routine appointments. Generally faster for non-emergency consultations.
Marina Medical Centre: A clinic-style facility near the Marina district, used by many expats for day-to-day GP-style consultations. English-speaking staff available.
Al Ahya district clinics: Several smaller private clinics serving the residential expat population directly. Shorter wait times and genuinely lower costs than the hospitals, appropriate for straightforward consultations and follow-ups.
El Gouna (20km north) has its own purpose-built medical centre with a higher standard of finish and a more internationally trained team — worth knowing for those based or considering basing themselves in El Gouna.
The £8–£16 GP consultation figure is real — it reflects a straightforward outpatient appointment at a private clinic for a common complaint. Here is a more complete picture of costs as of mid-2026 (all figures approximate in GBP at prevailing exchange rates):
GP-style consultation: £8–£16 Specialist consultation (cardiologist, dermatologist, orthopaedic, etc.): £20–£45 Blood panel (full blood count, metabolic panel): £12–£35 Chest X-ray: £15–£30 Ultrasound scan: £20–£50 ECG: £8–£15 MRI scan: £120–£200 (significantly below UK private rates) Minor surgical procedure (lipoma removal, sutures): £40–£120 Appendectomy (laparoscopic): £800–£1,800 Hip or knee replacement (major): £3,000–£6,000 (roughly 20–30% of UK private rates) Dental filling: £20–£40 Dental crown: £80–£160 Root canal: £80–£150
These figures compare extremely favourably with UK private healthcare, particularly for diagnostics and elective procedures.
The private hospital infrastructure in Hurghada is adequate for a wide range of everyday medical needs and many elective procedures. It is not appropriate to assume it is equivalent to UK NHS or top-tier private care in all areas.
Where it works very well: Emergency stabilisation and basic surgery, outpatient diagnostics and monitoring, routine specialist consultations, dental care, and physiotherapy.
Where it is more limited: Complex oncology treatment, rare conditions requiring highly specialised teams, organ transplantation, and neonatal intensive care for high-risk births. For these scenarios, air transfer to Cairo or repatriation to the UK is the appropriate pathway — which is exactly what repatriation insurance is for.
The quality of care also varies by facility and individual clinician. Asking the local expat community for recommendations for specific specialists is genuinely useful — the community has strong collective knowledge about which practitioners are reliable.
Most long-term British residents in Hurghada use a combination of two products:
A local Egyptian health insurance policy. Several Egyptian insurers (including the AXA Egypt subsidiary) offer annual health insurance plans covering outpatient and inpatient care at network hospitals in Egypt. Annual premiums for a healthy adult in their 40s–50s typically run £150–£350/year — extraordinarily cheap by UK standards. These policies cover most routine and urgent care needs within Egypt.
An international health / expat insurance policy with repatriation. This covers medical evacuation and treatment in the UK or another country with specialist capacity if required. Policies from providers such as Cigna, AXA International, Allianz, or Bupa International typically cost £600–£1,800/year depending on age and coverage level. The repatriation component is the critical element — it ensures that if something genuinely serious happens, you can get home for treatment.
The combination of both — a local Egyptian policy for day-to-day and emergency care, plus international coverage for repatriation — is what serious long-term residents recommend and is more affordable than an equivalent UK private health subscription.
This requires a clear-headed assessment, not wishful thinking.
The honest position: British citizens who move abroad permanently typically lose entitlement to free NHS treatment in England for non-emergency conditions. The NHS is a residence-based system, not a citizenship-based one. If you are not ordinarily resident in the UK, you are not entitled to free treatment for planned (non-emergency) procedures.
What is still available: Emergency treatment when you visit the UK is available to all, regardless of residency. If you maintain UK tax residency or return frequently, your position is more complex — consult an adviser.
The practical implication: If you plan to use the NHS for major planned procedures (scheduled surgery, cancer treatment, ongoing specialist care), this typically requires returning to the UK and re-establishing ordinary residence. Many expats who split their time maintain this option by spending sufficient time in the UK annually. Speak to an NHS entitlement specialist or your GP before you leave.
The good news: Given the cost differential between Egyptian private healthcare and UK private healthcare, most conditions that require significant treatment are dramatically cheaper to address privately in Egypt anyway — with the exception of genuinely complex or rare conditions requiring UK specialist teams.
Pharmacies in Hurghada are well-stocked and operate with considerably less restriction than UK pharmacies. Many medications that require a prescription in the UK are available over the counter at a fraction of the price. Paracetamol, common antibiotics, anti-fungals, blood pressure medications, and a wide range of other regular medications are available without a prescription at very low cost.
The system requires some self-management — there is no pharmacist operating in a supervisory role the way UK dispensing works. For people managing ongoing conditions with established prescriptions, this actually reduces friction significantly. For self-diagnosing and self-treating without medical oversight, it carries the usual risks.
Hurghada's dental provision deserves specific mention because it is an area where the cost advantage is exceptional and the quality, at reputable practices, is high. The expat community has several well-regarded English-speaking dental practices with modern equipment.
Routine maintenance, fillings, crowns, implants, and cosmetic work at around 15–20% of UK private rates has led many British residents to consolidate their dental care in Egypt entirely, using their UK visits for NHS dentistry where still available to them.
Healthcare in Hurghada is one of the most pleasant surprises for British expats who approach it with accurate expectations. For a wide range of everyday and elective medical needs, the combination of accessible private clinics, reasonable quality, and dramatically lower costs is genuinely compelling.
The intelligent approach is the same as with property or any other major decision: go in with accurate information, not optimistic simplifications. Understand what the local system can do well, know when you would need to go elsewhere, and ensure your insurance covers the gap. HOLTO's member guides cover health insurance options, recommended providers, and the practical steps for managing healthcare as a British resident in Hurghada in significantly more detail.