Headache service quality in Egypt: current status, identified gaps, and strategic directions
By
Amr Hassan
Mona Hussein
Rehab Magdy
Derya Uludüz
Aynur Özge
Semih Taşdelen
Sarkhan Amirguliyev
Tayyar Şaşmaz
Mohamad Osama Abdulghani
Ramez Reda Moustafa
Ahmed Essmat
Osama Yacoub
Mohamed Abdelghaffar
Nourhan Abdelmohsen Taha
Anas Elgenidi
Nahla Merghany
Sherien Mohamed Farag
May M. Fayez
Doaa Mahmoud Khalil
Rami Burstein
July 2, 2026
Clinical Report: Assessment of Headache Care Services in Egypt
Overview This study assesses the landscape of headache care in Egypt, highlighting challenges in provider training, treatment access, and medication availability.
Background Headache disorders are a leading cause of disability globally, yet their management in low- and middle-income countries like Egypt is often inadequate.
Data Highlights Finding Percentage Primary headaches 85% Secondary headaches 10% Patients paying for medication 80.1% Neurologists reporting anxiety as a comorbidity 91.9% Neurologists receiving formal training on migraine 89.7% Financial constraints affecting medication compliance 76.6%
Key Findings 85% of headache cases are primary headaches. 91.9% of neurologists report anxiety as a common comorbidity. 80.1% of patients pay out-of-pocket for medications. 89.7% of neurologists have received formal training on migraine management. 82.9% of neurologists noted that non-specialized physician consultations delay diagnosis. 76.6% of participants indicated financial constraints affect medication adherence. Clinical Implications Addressing financial barriers and expanding training for healthcare providers are critical steps towards improving patient outcomes.
Conclusion This study identifies gaps in headache care in Egypt.
Related Resources & Content
International Headache Society, Frontiers in Neurology, 2026 -- Efficacy, tolerability and barriers to the use of anti-CGRP medications among migraine patients in Egypt: real world experience BMC Neurology, 2026 -- Impact of migraine on work productivity of healthcare providers at Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital Global status report on neurology, WHO, 2025 -- Global status report on neurology Frontiers in Pain Research — Self-management support for patients with nonspecific neck pain: a qualitative descriptive study among physiotherapists in the United Arab Emirates conexiant — IHS, ACP Differ on Migraine Tx Updated ER Migraine Guidelines Provide Clear Direction for Clinicians Global status report on neurology Effectiveness of neuromodulation techniques for migraine prophylaxis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Springer Nature Link
