After raising the price of blood, the greed of Sisi and his government endanger the lives of Egyptians

The health sector is facing unprecedented crises. In light of the military’s control of vital sectors, the health of Egyptians is in danger, especially after controlling the market for plasma, blood, hospitals, and medicines.

With the failure of Sisi and the worsening economic situation, tons of urgent medical supplies are being confiscated at the ports because their value in dollars has not been paid to the suppliers, and most of these supplies are necessary tools for surgery.

Raise the prices of blood products

A few days ago, the Sisi government decided to increase the prices of blood products by more than 60%, which caused confusion in government and private centers, amid expectations of an exacerbation of the crisis due to the continued rise of the dollar against the pound.

While the number of patients is increasing, especially among children, as infection rates in Egypt exceed one in every 10,000, according to estimates by the World Health Organization.

extended tragedy

The Egyptians are living a tragedy of a special kind because of the high price of blood products, which patients with excessive bleeding “hemophilia” suffer from, as many suffer from a genetic bleeding disorder. Excessive bleeding, which requires continuous follow-up and permanent compensation for lost blood.

According to the new price list that was circulated to all centers, the price of a regular blood bag, including compatibility and blood group tests, increased from 210 pounds to 325 pounds for government agencies, and 750 pounds for private agencies, while the price of a blood bag (SAGM) increased to 375 pounds for government agencies, and 800 pounds for government agencies. pounds for private parties.

The Ministry of Health acknowledges the crisis, but confirms that the cost of a blood bag amounts to about 1,300 pounds, and that the prices of blood and its derivatives are now subsidized by 80% for government agencies, and 55% for private agencies, explaining that most cases of excessive bleeding receive treatment at the expense of the state.

The ministry explained the crisis because all materials and supplies are imported from abroad and their price has increased recently, so the decision to raise the price of blood products came with the aim of not stopping the service.

And with the continued need of some patients for blood, and amid the high prices, the blood crisis worsens and threatens the lives of Egyptians.

Meanwhile, the risk of trading in blood bags and its derivatives is escalating, as participating in providing blood for a sum of money is considered a crime punishable by law.

Many dangers

Patients with “excessive bleeding” are just a limited sample, but the biggest danger is related to the ongoing surgeries everywhere, along with long waiting lists in various hospitals.

According to the head of the General Division for Medical Supplies at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, Mohamed Ismail Abdo, the seizure of 183 shipments in the ports includes hundreds of medical supplies that are indispensable for saving patients.

Abdo stated, in a statement, that the seized shipments include medical supplies necessary for performing surgeries, including filters for dialysis machines, without which dialysis sessions cannot be performed, and necessary medical supplies for patients in the recovery period from medical operations.

According to the statement, the accumulation of these shipments in the ports, which has been going on since last January until now, has caused disruption and a significant shortage in the stock of hospitals and medical centers affiliated to the Ministry of Health and the Comprehensive Health Insurance Authority, as well as university hospitals.

While centers and companies selling medical supplies are facing great difficulty in providing supplies for his trade.

Where they suffer from a significant increase in prices due to the scarcity of the dollar and the government’s inability to manage it, as merchants pay the required amounts for shipments seized at the ports in Egyptian pounds to banks for months, according to government requirements, but the Central Bank did not provide the required dollar to the suppliers abroad.

Army business

And last September, the army obtained a “golden license” to set up and operate a plasma separation plant, 20 centers to collect plasma, which is the raw material for the factory in various parts of the Republic, which means a medical monopoly in manufacturing, distribution and marketing.

and she was; The city of vaccines and biotechnology and the “BIL Middle East and Africa” company for the manufacture and production of modern medical dressings were entrusted by the Sisi government, by direct order from Sisi to the National Service Projects Agency of the Armed Forces.

Direct order projects differ from what is followed in the auctions and tenders law, which government ministries, except for defense, are supposed to abide by without following tender procedures to obtain the best offers, based on direct directions from Sisi himself.

It is noteworthy that “the golden license means a comprehensive monopoly, and according to the advertiser, the City of Vaccines and Biotechnology project obtained the approval of the golden license among 8 other projects at the meeting of the Supreme Committee concerned with considering the applications of investors wishing to obtain the golden license, headed by Mostafa Madbouly at last, and procedures are being taken to obtain The golden license also for the company manufacturing modern medical bandages for the benefit of the army.