Cabinet approves bill on syndical organization of doctors

During its weekly session chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Adel Safar, the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill on the syndical organization of doctors which annuls Law No. 31 for 1980. The Cabinet also approved a bill on assessing insurance for the projects of the Real-Estate Investment Development Agency to guarantee the rights and commitments of all sides in these projects. In a statement to journalists after the session, Health Minister Dr. Wael al-Halqi said the bill on the syndical organization of doctors includes new articles allowing army doctors to join the syndicate to make use of the benefits it provides, which will benefit more than 13,000 doctors. He said that the bill allows physicians who had been working abroad for more than five years to rejoin the syndicate and maintain their membership and benefits, in addition to providing additional money to the syndicate and its retirement fund. Al-Halqi added that the bill also protects doctors from frivolous and malicious complaints, limiting the decision of suspending doctors or penalizing them to a final court order, while at the same time raising malpractice fines and the duration of suspension. In turn, Housing and Construction Minister Hala al-Nasser said that the bill on assessing insurance for the projects of the Real-Estate Investment Development Agency will prevent the use of loopholes that can be abused to acquire money unlawfully from citizens.