Assistant Health Minister Dr Abdel Hamid Abaza, held an emergency meeting on Thursday with the head of the Doctors Syndicate, Khairi Abdel Dayem, to discuss ways of securing hospitals against attacks by citizens, described by the minister as "thugs". The meeting came one day after an attack on Kasr al-Aini Hospital on Wednesday. The hospital suspended work for eight hours after the attack. Health Minister Dr Amr Helmi said on Thursday that the Doctors Syndicate, university hospitals and the Health Ministry are working together to find the best ways of securing hospitals. He added that Abaza's meeting was aimed at transferring the ministry's experience in securing hospitals through its security department. Securing hospitals is difficult because to the large number of hospitals, Helmi said, adding that the ministry has sent a proclamation to the effect that “any assault on a doctor or a member of a medical staff will be considered a personal attack on the health minister. All managers should take all precautions to protect doctors and all medical staff.” Translated from the Arabic Edition
