Health services provided by non-governmental organisation (NGO) health centres will continue under the supervision of the ministries of Social Solidarity and Health. The services will not be affected by the cabinet's decree which declared the Muslim Brotherhood a "terrorist organisation", according to Minister of Health Maha Al-Rabbat. Al-Rabbat told state-owned Al-Ahram on Thursday that a state of emergency was announced in governmental hospitals; they are to receive patients who were affected by cabinet's decision to freeze the assets of 1,055 NGOs. The minister added that the hospitals will receive a considerable amount of support from the ministry in this regard. Ministry spokesman Mohamed Fathallah told Daily News Egypt that the ministry is currently researching possible ways to compensate for health services which were provided by the NGOs. Fathallah added that the ministry has the capabilities to compensate for the absence of such services. Anwar Al-Sadat, member of the General Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations (GFNO), criticised on Wednesday the timing of the decision due to the government's failure in providing economic aid. Al-Sadat warned of a rift in society as a consequence of this decision. On Tuesday, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) froze the assets of 1,055 NGOs accused of affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood. The action was in line with the justice ministry's recent decision to dismantle Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated organisations on 23 September.
