The Egyptian government’s national Gold Star programme to improve the quality and usage of family
planning was conducted from 1995 to 2000. Data from the 2004 Egypt Service Provision Assessment survey were
used to assess whether the certified Gold Star facilities had sustained higher quality services than non-Gold Star
facilities 4 years after conclusion of the programme. A nationally representative sample of 637 facilities providing
family planning services were compared using several quality indicators. Gold Star facilities had significantly
better availability of family planning methods, counselling and examination services than non-Gold Star facilities,
independent of type, size and geographical location. Providers in Gold Star facilities were also more likely to
adhere to higher quality practices in counselling and examination than in non-Gold Star facilities. The Gold Star
programme was effective and could be implemented elsewhere in the region and globally.