CAIRO - Tens of Egyptian doctors started their demonstration on Sunday outside their syndicate (Dar el-Hekma) in downtown Cairo's Qasr Al-Aini Street, from where they walked to the Cabinet headquarters, according to Al-Youm Al-Sabie. They called on the Prime Minister to increase their wages, sack current Minister of Health Ashraf Hatem and protect hospitals from thugs. "We are taking our demands to the Cabinet headquarters,” said Dr Shaaban Rashwan, the co-ordinator of the Supreme Strike Committee. One of Rashwan's colleagues asked why the Government provides security at football matches, but doesn't do the same for hospitals. "The Government makes doctors neglect their work at the Health Ministry, as they have to do extra work in the private sector, in order to make ends meet," she added. The demonstrators chanted: "Down with Minister Hatem, down Hamdi el-Sayyed [Chairman of the Medical Syndicate]! Striking is our weapon to compel the Government to meet our demands.”
