Middle East

On Thursday September 4th, 2008 the Egyptian Administrative Court has announced its verdict in the urgent appeal of the case no. 21665/61 by suspending the execution of the Prime Minister decree no. 637 for the year 2007 by founding the Egyptian Holding Company for Heath Care.

Five days of intense fighting between the Mehdi army militia and the Iraqi military has left hospitals in Iraq overwhelmed with the number of casualties. Doctors for Iraq's network of doctors across the country report that hospitals are lacking many medical supplies such as IV fluid, antibiotics and specialist doctors to treat the injured.

Monday morning January 7 we, at the intal secretariat in Brussels, received the message about the sudden death of Dr. Ahmad Maslamani earlier that day. It left us in disbelief and shock.

It is important to celebrate small victories, no matter how partial or temporary they may be. As you all know, the government of Egypt had declared its intention and insistence to introduce a new law under the banner of "health reform". In reality, this amounted to the privatization of the majority of the health care facilities in Egypt as well as running the whole system on market for profit basis. In addition, a multi-tier system is developed in which a basic package for the poor is provided while higher packages of health services are provided for those who can afford it.

Committee for Defending the Citizens Right to Health (CDCRH) was founded last May by 21 civil society organizations as a reaction to the Prime Minister declaration no. 637 for the year 2007 that has founded the "Egyptian Holding Company for Health Care". The CDCRH hereby announces its position to the people and the press.