e-Health kicks off operations: EGX-listed e-Finance’s digital healthcare services arm, e-Health, has begun work on the government’s universal health ins. scheme, e-Finance said in a release (pdf). The state-owned company will manage and operate the tech backbone of the plan, with the first phase of operations seeing it roll out its services to around 140 hospitals in five governorates: Port Said, Luxor, Ismailia, Suez and South Sinai.

e-Health was created late last year to manage the system’s operations and digital payment services, which will be integrated with the government's e-payments channels and banking institutions. The company also plans to provide digital services for other companies in the sector. e-Finance owns 35% of the company’s shares, and the Universal Health Ins. Authority holds 50%.

Other things we’re keeping an eye on this morning:

• Maersk has held follow-up talks about clean energy with Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker, a few months after agreeing to explore collaboration with Egyptian authorities on producing green fuels. Representatives from Danish infrastructure investor CIP were also involved in the talks. (Al Borsa)
• The Suez Canal has extended markdowns on transit fees for LNG and LPG carriers until the end of the year. (Statement)
• Netherlands-based fertilizer producer OCI (backed by Nassef Sawiris) is importing more ammonia from Egypt instead of locally producing the chemical due to surging energy costs in Europe. (Wall Street Journal)
• The SME development agency wants to get more small businesses selling their products on e-commerce platforms Noon and Farmafelicidad.com. (Amwal Al Ghad)
• UK-based SDX Energy struck oil after completing drilling at its West Gharib concession, less than a week after it made its largest gas discovery at South Disouq. (Disclosure)