Health Minister Hatem el-Gabaly has approved the allocation of LE50 million for the second phase of a program to increase physicians' bonuses. His approval came yesterday after the program had been put on hold last year. The minister's announcement was intended to preempt a meeting between members of the Doctor's General Syndicate and its branch offices, official sources said. The syndicate is pushing for a raise in doctors' salaries as well as an examination into ways of dealing with the current crisis. El-Gabaly transferred the funds to health affairs directorates, which they will distribute to doctors at hospitals and local clinics starting in April. Doctors' Syndicate head Hamdi el-Sayyed has been notified of this "important step," said el-Gabaly, which demonstrates the state's commitment to improving doctors' living standards. The Doctors Syndicate, on the other hand, is demanding LE1 billion from the government to raise doctors' living standards. The syndicate also pointed out that the payments pledged by the minister will only cover the next three months, from April to June. Ahmed Farag, assistant minister for financial and administrative affairs in the health ministy, said he is currently coordinating with the finance minister to start distributing the money. Farag added that budget allocations for state-financed medical treatment have been raised to LE2.5 billion, of which LE1 million is set aside for the repayment of debts that have piled up over the past years. Budget allocations for medications and other medical supplies have been doubled in order to support free medical services at hospitals, he added. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
