CAIRO - Since the outbreak of the revolution last January, the Ministry of Health has taken a number of steps to improve the health sector and meet the demands being made by doctors, says the Minister, Dr Amr Helmi, who has described these demands as legitimate. He stresses that the doctors and other medical staff will soon be given a pay rise, noting that negotiations are underway with Ministry of Finance to endorse the new pay scale. As for non-tradition solutions for boosting doctors' salaries, as discussed during an expanded meeting held by the Minister and directors of health affairs in different governorates, Dr Helmi says that hospitals will start running clinics at night. “Revenue from these clinics will be go to the medical staff,” he explains, adding that they will all also benefit from a shift-work allowance. Another non-traditional solution is for doctors to pay only 25 per cent of the registration fees for postgraduate studies. Because of the delay in paying salaries and bonuses to doctors, the Minister notes that a new mechanism has been created for managers of health directorates to pay the wages on time. Doctors also want better accommodation in remote governorates and Dr Helmi says that he's going to meet with the governors of these governorates to find a solution to this problem. He will also meet with the ministers of tourism, petroleum and local development to discuss how to make it more attractive for doctors to work in these remote areas. Security in Egypt's hospitals is another problem and Dr Helmi stresses that he has a plan that involves using police to make these medical facilities more secure. A number of doctors have been assaulted by members of the public in some hospitals since the revolution. Dr Helmi has set up a new department for security, which will come into effect as of next month. This matter was discussed in a meeting held last Wednesday. As for the distribution of doctors, this will be decided according to the needs each governorate, while priority will be given to deprived governorates. Doctors also want corrupt senior officials in the Ministry of Health to be given the sack. Minister Helmi stresses that that the performance of staff has already evaluated and the Administrative Surveilliance Agency issued reports of which ruled officials at the Ministry are out of corruption.
