CAIRO: Rights group Doctors Without Rights (DWR) are demanding that the Doctors' Syndicate convene an emergency general assembly to discuss a draft law which they say will have a "serious impact on doctors' futures. The draft "continuous professional development law was published on the website of the Doctors' Syndicate last month. If passed, it would require specialist and consultant doctors to acquire 250 training "accreditation points over the course of a five-year period, or face being struck off the medical register. The draft law is scheduled to be discussed during the current parliamentary session. On Monday, DWR handed over to the syndicate a petition signed by over 300 doctors calling for the convening of the emergency general assembly. According to a statement released by the group, the Doctors' Syndicate is legally obliged to hold such a meeting if more than 150 doctors request that it be convened. DWR says that "the majority of doctors know nothing about the draft law , and that "a closed workshop attended by 70 "university professors and medical education experts has been the only forum in which the draft law has been discussed. DWR activists are demanding that the costs of the obligatory training laid down in the draft law should not be borne by doctors themselves. They reject the syndicate's proposal that these costs be offset by a government allowance payment. "Let's suppose that the allowance payment covers the cost of this year's expenses. What though will the situation be next year, or in five years time with constantly-increasing prices? DWR's statement reads. DWR has been involved in a long-running battle for a minimum wage, to replace the allowance and bonus payments which currently make up doctors' salaries and which the group says are not paid regularly. "When doctors asked for a minimum wage two years ago . they were told that it requires the passing of legislation by the People's Assembly and that this is impossible, the statement reads. "Today though we have a law concerning doctors before parliament but not one aimed at treating them justly and allowing them to work and study with dignity. Rather, it increases their burdens.
