The Egyptian Medical Syndicate addressed President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to increase the risk allowance for Egyptian doctors, a demand the syndicate have been making for years.
The Syndicate explained that doctors along with other medical teams are working to combat diseases to protect the Egyptians, specifically the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), which has swept many countries in the world. This role puts doctors at risk of infection since for taking care of patients infected with the virus.
Since 1995, medical staffs in Egypt have been receiving only EGP 19-30 monthly as hazard allowance, according to the medical syndicate.
It affirmed that doctors sincerely fulfill their duty, responding to Egypt’s fight against the virus, putting themselves and their families at risk of infection. It also asserted that some medical staffs have already died from infections and injuries while in duty.
Doctors‘ efforts are invaluable and no financial compensation can compensate them or their families for serious illness or death, however, feeling the appreciation from the government will encourage them and increase their safety and feeling of belonging, said the syndicate.
The syndicate has also asked the president to direct the cabinet to apply Law No.16 of 2018 which established a fund honouring security and military martyrs or casualties, to any individual from the medical team who was injured or died from infections.
In 2014, the Medical Syndicate filed a legal case demanding that the government raise the allowance to EGP 1,000, but the increase was cancelled by the High Administrative Court in 2018. The Medical Syndicate, however, vowed to continue pursuing all possible ways to help physicians “obtain their clear and absolute right to a fair risk allowance.”
