Saturday, June 6, 2020
Press Release
The Dialogue Forum for Development and Human Rights expressed its condemnation of the decision to withdraw private hospitals from the Corona treatment protocol, in objection to the decision of the Ministry of Health for forced pricing to treat the injured. FDHRD described the decision in a press statement issued today, Saturday, as unjustified and considered a repudiation of responsibility, as well as giving priority to the interests of private hospital owners at the expense of the public interest. The Central Administration of Free Treatment and Medical Licenses at the Ministry of Health and Population had sent a periodical publication to all free treatment departments in the governorates, including the treatment of Corona patients in private hospitals, which will start working as of June 2, and warned against non-compliance with prices and that any hospital that does not comply with implementation will be subject to closure.
In the publication, the ministry set the price of treating people with corona in private hospitals after receiving many complaints about the overpricing of treatment, which is not commensurate with the cost of the service. The decision set the price of the cost of isolation in the internal isolation ranging from 1500 to 3000 pounds, and the cost of isolation in intensive care, including a respirator, ranging from 7500 pounds to 10,000 pounds, and the cost of the day in care without a respirator from 5000 pounds to 7000 pounds.
Following the decision issued by the Ministry of Health, an official source in the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Health Service Providers for the Private Sector of the Federation of Industries stated, on Wednesday, June 3, that 100% of private hospitals withdrew from the pricing set by the Ministry of Health to treat patients with the emerging corona virus, and the hospitals demanded a meeting with the Minister of Health to determine the price Fair.
The private hospitals refused the price set by the Ministry of Health, describing it as low for the services provided to patients, and considered that the price was unfair, according to them.
“There must be deterrent measures against those who did not implement the decision, such as withdrawing the license, closing buildings and referring to an urgent trial in some cases.” Said Saeed Abd El Hafez, FDHRD Manager.
FDHRD stresses on the need to implement the amendments that were approved regarding the emergency law, related to Law No. 22 of 2020 amending some provisions of Emergency Law No. 162 of 1952 regarding the state of emergency: Violators of the decisions of the Ministry of Health, among which was the article that states, “Obliging some or all private hospitals, specialized medical centers and laboratories in cases of health emergency and for a specified period to work with their full technical staff and operational capacity to provide health care services in general or for suspected cases of specific diseases.” This is under the full supervision of the administrative body determined by the President of the Republic. This authority determines the operating and management provisions, requirements and procedures that these hospitals must abide by, and the monitoring mechanisms.”
FDHRD calls on the Ministry of Health to set up specific mechanisms through which to ensure that private hospitals comply with the new pricing and to clarify the measures that will be taken in the event of a violation.
FDHRD also calls for the necessity of private sector hospitals to provide medical services to treat patients infected with the Corona virus at a cost price with the addition of a reasonable profit margin, especially in this exceptional stage that the country is going through.Top of Form
