The talking heads tackled a variety of topics last night, including the anticipated Universal Healthcare Act, CAPMAS’ state census, and just how much our beloved holidays are costing the economy.

Paid vacations are costing the country’s GDP an estimated EGP 25 bn per day, former executive assistant to the IMF’s executive director Fakhry Elfiky told Masaa DMC’s Eman El Hosary. Elfiky’s calculations rely on dividing the total GDP in FY2017/18 — which is estimated at around EGP 4.5 tn — over the total number of workdays per year, making the 17 days of paid national holidays rather costly for the economy (watch, runtime 10:27).

Hona Al Asema’s Lamees Al Hadidi discussed the main planks of the Universal Healthcare Act with Vice Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait. He explained that key changes to the system include expanding health coverage to the whole family instead of the breadwinner, and allowing citizens to choose where they are treated rather than being pushed towards specific institutions, which means also to protect competitiveness (watch, runtime 58:36).

Lamees also hosted CAPMAS boss Abu Bakr El Gendy to delve deeper into the facts and figures of the 2017 state census. While still high, illiteracy (especially among the young) is on the decline, El Gendy said (watch, runtime 33:29).

We can expect another baby boom in 10-15 years, according to Baseera Director Maged Othman, who was brought in alongside the Presidential Council for Economic Development’s Chairman Abla Abdel Latif for a take on the report (watch, runtime 30:58).

Over on Yahduth fi Masr, Sherif Amer hosted veteran football player Magdy Abdel Ghany to talk about Egypt’s chances at its 2018 World Cup qualifier match against Congo next week.

Meanwhile, 90 Minutes’ Moataz El Demerdash announced on Saturday that he is leaving the show after years of hosting it. (watch, runtime 9:33).