Who We Are ? We are a growing non-governmental pressure group of physicians, medical students, nurses, activists and patients in Egypt and abroad who gathered for the purpose of reforming the Egyptian health care. The group was initiated in March, 2011 post-revolution. It does not represent any political parties or organizations.
About Us : Inspired by the January revolution’s challenge to what was once believed to be impervious, the long-term despair of the ailing Egyptian health care had to end. A large number of young physicians’ groups, often initiated over the social networks, emerged post-revolution to pressure the government for improving the ailing Egyptian health care system. Main demands of these groups were instant short-term solutions including a minimal rise in salaries, provision of essential medications and supplies in governmental hospitals, and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy. Despite successive demonstrations and strikes by health care workers, these demands were not answered. On the contrary, the situation got worse by growing tension and clashes between patients and health workers due to patients’ intolerance of defective medical care resulting in serious violence against the medical team, a phenomenon that surfaced after the revolution.
Although we fully appreciate and agree with many of the lawful reasons that drive physicians to strike, our group adopts a wider scale of long-term objectives, a root cause analysis approach and a uniting rather than dividing pathway of application. We believe in the crucial role of the public pressure in gaining the legislative power for a true and long lasting change. We also believe that health care workers, patients and all Egyptians have the right to understand their health care rights and should participate actively in creating the change. Our activities revolve around empowering a public bill that defines the key steps to create the desired reform. Accountability, independency of quality control, removal of conflict of interest and following internationally standardized routes of success are the four basic principles that encompass the twenty subjects of the bill. Communicating the concepts in the bill to the public, media and health care workers is our chief plan to get the required support for further parliamentary and governmental involvement. The proposed bill, which were framed by around 50 authors over 2 years of field work, including workshops, brain-storming sessions, communications with experts, and collecting feedback from patients, students, physicians and academics can be summarized in Fixing Medicine Bill .
Message from the Honorary President
The health sector, like most sectors in Egypt, deteriorated slowly and progressively in most aspects particularly access to quality care, unaffordable cost especially to the disadvantaged and most importantly lack of health security to all families especially the middle and lower income meaning that the citizen is unable to face sickness since quality health care is too costly to get from the private sector and unreliable in most public systems. After continuing follow up of actions by government to reform the system, I lost hope in any significant improvement even in the foreseen future because of:
Absence of political will for real improvement
Ignoring the real reasons for defects and failures and attempting false short term remedies in the last 30 years that are known to fail in advance with continuing distraction of the public.
The complexity of the situation that needs massive efforts and long term solutions especially in organizing and financing health care, deteriorated health status of massive populations, defective medical and nursing education , uncontrolled private sector and dual practice, and significant waste and corruption.
These serious defects and challenges continued after the revolution especially that the national priorities and concerns were distant from health reform, distracted by dirty politics and compounded by economic bleeding. I felt miserable offering assistance and reform to all communities in more than 78 countries except my own beloved country.
I THEN CAME ACROSS THE HEALTH REFORM MOVEMENT GROUP and discovered that they are the only viable hope for EGYPT since:
- THEY CLEARLY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEMS AND ARE ENTHUSIASTIC BOUT IMPROVEMENT. - THE GROUP IN YOUNG, STRONG, INNOCENT,HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND COMES FROM WITHIN THE SYSTEM BUT IS FREE OF SPECIAL INTEREST OR CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
This is why I strongly supported them and will continue to do so to the best of my ability. In fact, if this group fails, then There will be no hope for real health reform in Egypt or health security for Egyptians.
I SINCERELY ASK EVERY HONEST AND OBJECTIVE CITIZEN TO JOIN THEM AND SUPPORT THEM UNTIL ALL CITIZENS BECOME PART OF THE GROUP SINCE THIS IS SIMPLY THE WAY TOWARDS HEALTH FOR ALL EGYPTIANS.
Samir N. Banoob, M.D, D.M, DPH, Ph.D President, International Health Management, LLC., USA Professor& Senior Consultant of Health Policy and Management 4303 avenue Cannes, Lutz-Tampa, Florida 33558, USA
Healthcare Reform Egypt Bill Summary
Message from the President
No one denies that our Healthcare System is in a critical need for urgent radical reform and modernization. What was achieved on the ground, however, does not meet the expectations; there is a lot yet that needs to be done. The current situation whereby the Department of Health takes on a multitude of functions from policy making, funding, providing service to monitoring is untenable. This precise situation, which is long outdated, has directly led to lack of governance, financial inefficiency, and deterioration of Egyptian Healthcare at all fronts. Egyptians spend on average 62% of their health needs out of their pocket, which is already stretched. The richest and poorest 20% of the population has seen their private spending on Health increase over the years. Despite this, they are not getting a uniformly good quality service. This has deepened social injustice and created inequality of access to better healthcare. So far, all remedies and reform plans were only partial and aimed at bridging gaps and patching defects in an ailing system. This approach has proved not to be ideal and can only lead to more wasted time and resources. What we need is a “Radical Reform”; restructuring the Department of Health and defining its role to policy making is the first step. Creating a sound universal health insurance system that is quality controlled and streamlining the multitude of Healthcare providors affiliated to the government are some of the challenges that face Healthcare Reform. This is in addition to creating a separate monitoring body and ensuring clinical and financial governance are built-in into the system.
Our message to fellow Egyptians is that this Group is created for you. “Healthcare Reform Egypt” speaks your voice and makes sure it reaches loud and clear. This is your Group, and is represented by public members, in addition to nurses, medical students, doctors and indeed high profile public figures interested in supporting our common cause and ensuring Healthcare Reform Agenda is at the top priority of relevant authorities. Egypt, the land of greatest doctors in history, from Imhoteb to Magdy Yacoub, deserves a better healthcare system that is second to none. Our aspirations are therefore legitimate; and above all, achievable. The modernisation and reform agenda is comprehensive. Whilst it ensures patients’ rights and dignity are observed at all times, it also means our medical students will receive the most up-to-date education system, and be well-supported during their study years. Doctors graduating will be assessed in a fair and quality controlled process to ensure our graduates are of the highest possible standard. Postgraduate Certification will be redefined and Medical Training will be uniform and of international quality. Attention will also be focused on addressing health inequalities, tackling chronic diseases such as hepatitis and renal failure, and ensuring patients with cancer receive the necessary treatment without difficulty.
For the “Healthcare Reform Egypt” members, you are the hope of this country; the light that ignites the enthusiasm and determination in all of us, and I am honoured to be one of you. Inspirational, being positive, tolerant, visionary, practical, approachable are few qualities not only of the successful leader, but of the successful team. Now I understand how lucky I am to work with you all, who possess such qualities and more. Our message needs to spread hope not disappointment, understanding not accusations, compassion not indifference. It is all about togetherness and inclusiveness. We are not there to expose shortfalls for the sake of scaremongering people or authorities. We have set ourselves out for a Noble mission; it is improving fellow Egyptians health by addressing its shortfalls and the way forward. Smile goes a long way; we'll do better if we manage to keep it. We should accept criticism in a constructive way; and not feel superior merely because we call for a moral cause. Many would have liked to be given the opportunity to do the same; encourage them to join in and always maintain neutral politics. We should lead by example and hard work before rhetoric; and amongst all that, ensure our unity at the difficult times, as there will be a few, and share the successful achievements, as there will be many to come insha'Allah!
With best wishes,
Ahmed Sekotory
Ahmed Sekotory Ahmed MD FRCOG
Lead Consultant and Chair of Gynaecological Oncology