Egypt doctors launch campaign to expose lax hospital security

Ahram Online, Monday 30 Jul 2012

Egyptian Doctors Syndicate to spearhead new campaign aimed at exposing failures by police to secure nation's hospitals

Doctors
File photo of doctors strike in May 2011

A campaign is to be launched on Tuesday aimed at exposing police negligence – deliberate or otherwise – in securing Egyptian hospitals, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate member Ahmed Lotfi told Al-Ahram's Arabic-language website on Monday.

Members of the campaign plan to file complaints with both the police and Egypt's attorney-general highlighting inadequate security at the nation's hospitals.

They also plan to organise demonstrations and sit-ins at various police stations throughout the country.

According to Lotfi, the campaign will utilise "all forms of protest" to realise its objectives, including – potentially – labour strikes.

Syndicate head Khairi Abdel-Daiem and head of the syndicate's general secretariat Abdel-Fattah Rizq will both be among those officially launching the campaign on Tuesday, Lotfi confirmed.  

Egyptian doctors have participated in numerous campaigns and strikes in recent years to demand better pay and improved working conditions.

In May of last year, Egyptian doctors staged their first-ever nationwide labour strike to press for outstanding demands.   

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