In press statements on Tuesday, Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, the health ministry spokesman, said the closure decision is part of regular campaigns and inspections conducted by the ministry to monitor medical facilities' practices to avoid any harm to citizens' public health.

He asserted that the ministry campaign covered 4,943 private medical facilities including clinics, hospitals and medical centers across the nation.

Abdel-Ghaffar also reiterated that the ministry is keen that all health facilities are operated in accordance with health licenses and applied all health regulations needed to ensure the safety of medical procedures and prescribed medicine.

He explained that all patients who have been receiving treatment in the closed facilities were transferred to alternative hospitals affiliated to the health ministry through ambulances.