Ministerial decision regarding the privatization of government hospitals

 The Council of Ministers denied news circulated by some websites and social media pages regarding the government's intention to privatize government hospitals as a prelude to canceling free treatment for citizens.

The Media Center of the Council of Ministers communicated with the Ministry of Health and Population, which denied these reports, stressing that there is no truth in privatizing government hospitals as a prelude to canceling free treatment for citizens.

privatization of government hospitals

The Ministry of Health  stressed that government hospitals will remain owned by the state, while continuing to provide treatment services free of charge for those who are unable, and with nominal fees for those who are able.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that the Ministry is expanding the application of the new comprehensive health insurance system, and the state will continue to bear the cost of treating those who are unable to receive the system, with the aim of providing high-quality medical services to all segments of society without discrimination.

The Ministry of Health and Population indicated that the partnership with the private sector in the health field is limited to building and developing government hospitals, and mechanisms for operating and managing them, while continuing to be owned by the state.

Training workers in blood banks and centers

On a related note, Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, confirmed that a mechanism study is underway for cooperation with the World Health Organization, to train workers in blood banks and centers, on the approved national technical standards, for blood transfusions, starting with awareness of the benefits of blood donation, and commitment to preserving the health of the blood. And the safety of the donor, in order to ensure the confidentiality of all donor data and results, as it is one of the most important responsibilities of blood operations centers.

Abdel Ghaffar explained that the controls and criteria for determining the cost of blood bags in the public and private sectors are being discussed, in a way that does not represent, according to guiding standard studies that govern the disbursement of blood bags in places where the service is provided, based on the real cost.

He stressed the need to work on providing blood bags for all factions, according to a strategy to achieve integration and bridge the deficit between blood centers and banks, to ensure the regular functioning of the blood transfusion system in all governorates.