After a video of an attack in front of an Egyptian hospital sparked anger...a government decision to investigate and end services

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The Egyptian Minister of Health issued a decision to terminate the contract with a security company after one of its members attacked a journalist on a famous website and dragged him in front of the 6th of October Central Hospital.

The Ministry of Health said in its statement, today, Wednesday, that the minister is reviewing the results of the investigations into the October 6 Central Hospital incident, and that he has decided to terminate the contract with the security company and receive the attacked journalist in his office.

The Ministry of Health and Population also affirmed its full appreciation for the professional and national role played by the press and media, and its constant keenness to facilitate the performance of their mission, while at the same time preserving the privacy and safety of patients and the regular provision of medical services, especially in times of emergencies and crises.

A state of controversy and criticism prevailed on social networking sites after the spread of a video clip showing an administrative security personnel attacking the journalist in front of the 6th of October Central Hospital and dragging him out, coinciding with the hospital receiving those injured in a traffic accident that occurred on the Cairo-Assiut Western Desert Road, while the security personnel claimed during his assault on the journalist that he was an officer.

Many on social media called for the security personnel appearing in the video to be held accountable, stressing that no one is above the law and that what he did against the journalist is an insulting and inappropriate scene that requires punishment and accountability.

The Ministry confirmed that Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, had reviewed the results of the preliminary investigations conducted in this regard, and based on the results of the investigations, the Minister decided to terminate the contract with the private security company responsible for securing the hospital, and to take the necessary measures to ensure that such violations are not repeated, while emphasizing the Ministry’s categorical rejection of any verbal or physical assault or transgression against any person, especially journalists and media professionals, during the exercise of their professional work.

The Minister also directed that the journalist concerned with the incident be received in his office, in the context of ensuring direct dialogue and mutual respect, and emphasizing the partnership between the health system and media institutions in serving the citizen. The Ministry also stressed that any dispute regarding the organization of media coverage within health facilities must be managed by legal and professional means, ensuring that the movement of medical teams is not impeded or the privacy of patients is violated, while facilitating the performance of journalists’ tasks at the same time, while it renewed its appreciation for the Journalists Syndicate and all press and media institutions.