(Laurence Underhill/ File Photo)
By Nourhan Dakroury
The Shura Council’s health committee announced on Wednesday that they have determined most aspects of the new staff law for doctors.
“The council approved the law conceptually and announced some of its guidelines,” said Mostafa Helal, Shura Council spokesperson.
Helal added that the council will still have to further discuss the law, probably during the next general session.
Abdel Ghaffar Saleheen, head of the health committee, told state-owned Al-Ahram that the new staff law will be included in the 2013/2014 budget, and that the new fixed salaries will be added to the budget once the Shura Council issues their final approval on the law.
Saleheen also said that 30% of the bonuses under the new staff law will be included in the 2013/2014 budget and that it will be fully implemented over the course of the next three to four years.
Hossam Kamal, member of Doctors Without Rights, said: “The Shura Council and the former parliament have been saying the same things and giving [doctors] empty promises.”
Kamal added that doctors have been demanding the discussion and implementation of the staff law since 2008.
“None of the guidelines of the law are new, but they were never really implemented,” said Sarah Raafat, member of Doctors Without Rights.
For example, according to Saleheen, bonuses issued to doctors who work in remote areas will also be included the coming budget. However, Raafat points out that these bonuses already exist, but mostly go unimplemented.
Kamal added the issues doctors have with the law are not limited to remuneration, but also concern the power that the health minister will wield in determining such areas as their working hours and their positions.
He said that Doctors without Rights will still go through with their strike on 15 June, in collaboration with Ultras White Coats, a group of doctors who are also die-hard football fans.
