Khaberni - The Egyptian Ministry of Health recently announced a plan to lease outpatient clinics at several hospitals belonging to the governmental medical institution to young doctors as part of creating opportunities for young doctors to benefit professionally and financially, and to enhance healthcare services.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, stated that the offer includes 3 hospitals: Maadi Mabarra Hospital, Heliopolis Hospital, and Old Egypt Mabarra Hospital, noting that these clinics operate only in the morning until three p.m., thus, they are being offered to young doctors to optimally utilize them to serve patients while simultaneously supporting these doctors.
The decision sparked a major controversy about its feasibility and reasons, where Dr. Makram Redwan, a member of the Health Committee at the Egyptian Parliament, for "Alarabiya.net" and "Alhadath.net", said that the decision is a good step serving multiple parties in the health system.
He explained that the decision gives young doctors a practical opportunity at the beginning of their professional lives by providing qualified places to practice the profession at a reasonable cost, something hard to achieve with the rising prices of private clinic rents. He added that the hospitals themselves would benefit from the presence of the doctors after official working hours, as there will still be medical staff present in the evenings and night hours, allowing for their help in providing emergency services.
The Health Committee member in the Egyptian Parliament confirmed that the decision also benefits the citizen, as it gives them the freedom to choose the doctor they wish to see, benefiting from lower consultation prices than those in private clinics, and noted that patients will find all the medical services they need within the same hospital, including various medical examinations, even if they are for a specialty other than the one they came for.
Redwan emphasized that recording the patient's medical history within the hospital allows any doctor to easily review their medical history, thereby improving the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment. He also called for the continuous oversight by the state to ensure monitoring prices and preventing any attempts to increase them that may burden the citizens.
On his part, Dr. Jamal Omeira, deputy of the General Syndicate of Doctors, for "Alarabiya.net" and "Alhadath.net," stated that if the decision is implemented correctly, it will be a strong support for young doctors, who often struggle to provide private clinics due to high rents, explaining that leasing clinics within hospitals belonging to the medical institution will lessen the financial burden on doctors, and that these rents might be at a symbolic price compared to the high costs outside the hospitals.
Omeira pointed out that the second beneficiary of the decision is the citizen, as the examination inside these clinics will be priced by the Ministry of Health, according to the doctor's specialty and years of experience, which ensures that the costs remain affordable for different categories, emphasizing that this helps alleviate burdens on patients and assists them in receiving good medical service at reasonable prices.
The deputy of the syndicate stressed the necessity for these clinics to be fully equipped with medical devices and the necessary capabilities for diagnosing and treating patients, such that they are not just reception rooms but fully integrated units providing comprehensive medical services.
