The impossible choice about Corona ... Amnesty International: Egypt's doctors between death or imprisonment

Amnesty International called on the Egyptian authorities to immediately stop what it described as a "campaign of harassment and intimidation" against front-line health-care workers who are expressing safety concerns, or criticizing the government's handling of the Corona virus epidemic.

In a statement today, Thursday, the international organization documented how the Egyptian authorities use very broad and vague charges, such as spreading false news and terrorism, in order to arrest and detain health-care workers who express their opinions publicly, and subject them to threats, harassment and punitive administrative procedures.

She explained that those who were targeted by the authorities protested against unsafe working conditions, lack of personal protective equipment, insufficient training to control infection, limited screening of health-care workers, and lack of access to necessary health care.

Amnesty International conducted 14 interviews with doctors, their relatives, lawyers, and union members, and viewed supporting evidence, including written correspondence and voice messages from government officials.

Death or imprisonment

"Instead of protecting healthcare workers on the front lines by addressing their legitimate concerns about their safety and source of livelihood, the Egyptian authorities are dealing with the Covid-19 epidemic crisis," said Philip Luther, director of research and advocacy for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International. Using its usual repressive methods. "

Luther added that "health care workers must make the impossible choice, either risking their lives or facing imprisonment if they dare raise their voices with complaints."

He explained that health care workers have been arrested in Egypt, and they have been criminalized and tried for having dared to express their concerns about personal safety, and in some cases, they have been denied access to appropriate health care.

"Officials have often praised health care workers as the White Army, but apparently with the expectation that they will, in silence," he said.

He stressed that the campaign launched by the authorities not only undermines freedom of expression in the country, but also impedes the efforts of those who address the health crisis and put their lives and those of their loved ones at risk.

According to the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, at least 68 health care workers have died on the front lines, and more than 400 cases have been discovered among them since the Corona virus epidemic in Egypt in mid-February.

Amnesty International clarified that this number does not include doctors who died of symptoms of HIV infection, such as pneumonia, and who did not undergo the necessary tests, and it excludes the number of deaths among nurses, dentists, pharmacists, technicians, delivery workers, cleaning personnel and other key workers, who are also in the lines Front lines, and they risked their mental and physical health to ensure that people had access to health care and other basic services.

Arrests

Amnesty International has documented eight cases of health-care workers, including six doctors and pharmacists, who were arbitrarily detained between March and June by the infamous National Security Sector, due to comments on the Internet and social media, expressing motives. Their health concerns.

Alaa Shaban Hamida, a 26-year-old doctor, was arrested on 28 March at the hospital where she works in Alexandria, after a nurse used her phone to report a Corona virus case to the Ministry of Health hotline.

On April 10, security officers arrested Hani Bakr, a 36-year-old ophthalmologist, from his Qalubiya home, north of Cairo, for a Facebook comment criticizing the government for sending medical aid to Italy and China.

On May 27, another doctor was detained for writing an article critical of the government's response to the epidemic, as well as structural gaps in the health system in Egypt. According to his family, four security officers raided his home, confiscated his phone and computer, and asked him whether he had attended the burial of Walid Yahya, 32, who died after being infected with the virus.

On June 14, the Doctors ’Syndicate issued a statement warning that such arrests sparked“ a state of growing frustration and fear among doctors. ”

Amnesty International drew further arrests prior to the Coruna outbreak, due to concerns about the health system. In September 2019, five doctors were arrested for launching the "Angry Doctors Egypt" campaign that called for reform of the health care system in Egypt and preventing more " minds immigration".

While four doctors were later released, dentist Ahmed Didamouni was still behind bars to express his view of poor wages, working conditions, and inadequate sanitation.

Security and administrative threats

Amnesty International has also spoken to seven doctors who have witnessed security and administrative threats against their colleagues in the health field due to complaints on the media, or a request by the Ministry of Health to provide “serial polymerase reaction” checks for health-care workers, personal protective equipment, training and access to care Health in cases of HIV infection.

A source from the Medical Syndicate confirmed that doctors are subject to threats and interrogation by the national security sector, administrative interrogation and penalties.

"We receive a lot of complaints in this regard, while many others prefer to pay for their personal equipment to avoid these exhausting talks ... They are forcing doctors to choose between death and imprisonment," the source said.

He added that "the national security sector is represented in the Corona crisis committees that were established throughout the country, which also confirms the government's security-based approach to addressing the public health crisis."

Some health workers have expressed concerns about their safety, and doctors have received voice threatening messages from local Health Ministry agents or hospital administrators.

Amnesty International said that the voice messages flagrantly threaten doctors who do not come to work with a referral to the National Security Sector, which could lead to prosecutions, or procedures that may lead to deductions from salaries.

According to the organization, in one of these letters, the doctor, who refuses to work because of the lack of safe working conditions, was described as a "traitorous soldier" to whom he would apply "the maximum penalties."

A written letter signed by the governor of North Sinai, seen by Amnesty International, warns that "in the event that a doctor or nurse refuses to carry out his work duties and absenteeism is called through the National Security."

Sources from the Medical Association told Amnesty International that health-care workers who talk openly about their problems have been transferred to the isolation hospitals, or to hospitals in other governorates. This is especially true for doctors who suffer from chronic diseases, or older doctors who are at greater risk.

Pharmacists have also faced abuse and harassment for criticizing the authorities. In response to a complaint from eight pharmacists regarding their insecure working conditions at Damanhur Teaching Hospital (Beheira Governorate, north of Egypt), the hospital director decided on May 9 to transfer them to different governorates away from their homes and families.