Khaberni - The authorities in Egypt are conducting an official examination of a circulating video that showed a number of inmates escaping from a facility known as a psychiatric clinic for addiction treatment in the Mariouteya area of Giza Governorate, in an incident that underwent security and health verification to determine its legal and organizational circumstances.
The Ministry of Health and Population has commenced a review of the situation of the controversial facility, in coordination with the Free Treatment Administration and the General Secretariat for Mental Health, aiming to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and health standards.
The Ministry stated in an official statement that the final decision will be issued after the completion of the technical and administrative investigations related to licensing and the nature of the activity.
The Ministry explained that the inspection committees of the Central Administration for Non-Governmental Medical Facilities, in coordination with security authorities, concluded that the facility in question was operating without an official license, practicing addiction treatment outside the legal framework.
The actions resulted in an immediate closure decision for the facility, with the referral of its operators to the Public Prosecution for initiating investigations and taking necessary legal actions.
The examination results revealed that the violating entity impersonated a medical facility, contrary to the provisions of the Non-Governmental Medical Facilities Law and the Mental Health Law, posing a direct threat to the safety of those inside.
The relevant authorities confirmed that such practices expose patients to serious health risks, amidst the absence of oversight and compliance with approved standards.
In the year 2025, the Ministry of Health conducted extensive inspection campaigns that led to the closure of a large number of unlicensed facilities in several provinces, including Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Ismailia, and Fayoum.
The campaigns targeted centers proven to be operating without licenses or violating infection prevention standards and environmental control in treatment settings.
The Ministry also emphasized that addiction treatment services are available for free and confidentially at the hospitals of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment throughout the provinces.
The Ministry urged citizens to verify the legal status of any medical facility before dealing with it and to report any non-compliant entities through the official approved channels, as part of protecting patient rights and ensuring they receive safe and humane care.
In related news, media reports confirmed that the allegations regarding the inmates being subjected to mistreatment or arbitrary practices are still being examined, and the competent authorities have not yet reached final conclusions that prove their validity.
The Public Prosecution is investigating to determine responsibilities and reasons for the inmates' escape, should any criminal acts or violations of patients' rights be proven
