The controversy began after social media posts alleged that donations collected from Egyptians were being used to cover treatment for Sudanese patients at Baheya, raising questions about whether funds intended for Egyptian women were being spent on patients from other nationalities.
Bahia Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Tamer Shawky stressed, in comments to television presenter Lamis El Hadidy several days before the current controversy, during her programme on Al-Nahar TV, that the foundation’s services are not limited to Egyptian women.
He confirmed that any woman residing in Egypt, regardless of her nationality, is entitled to receive free medical care under the same conditions that apply to Egyptian women.
On 9 August, in a statement on its website, Baheya rejected the allegations, saying donations from Egyptian individuals and institutions are allocated to the treatment of Egyptian women.
In the statement, the foundation said non-Egyptian patients are instead treated through its affordable treatment programme or through agreements with organizations and embassies that cover the costs of their care.
The issue has since sparked a heated debate in Egyptian Facebook groups, with users divided over whether medical treatment at Baheya should be provided free of charge regardless of nationality, or whether Egyptian women should be prioritized as beneficiaries of donations collected in Egypt.
Supporters of the first view argue that women with breast cancer should receive treatment regardless of their nationality.
Others say free treatment funded by Egyptian donations should be reserved for Egyptian women, pointing to wealthier countries where public donations and charitable funds are primarily directed towards citizens in need.
The debate, however, goes beyond whether Sudanese women are receiving treatment at Baheya. Available information indicates that Sudanese patients had been treated at the foundation before the announcement of the latest cooperation with the Sudanese embassy.
The foundation has several sources of income, including individual donations, contributions from companies, banks, and other organizations, as well as paid medical services and contractual arrangements.
Baheya Foundation for Early Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer is a non-profit Egyptian organization dedicated to the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Its first hospital was established in 2015, providing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment services, including free care for women who cannot afford treatment.
The foundation relies on donations and other sources of income to support its operations and treatment programmes. It has also developed partnerships with organizations and diplomatic missions to provide care to patients from outside Egypt.
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