Egypt's Medical Syndicate has expressed concerns over the state of the medical profession in the country, citing issues such as a decline in the number of qualified physicians and the quality of medical education. According to Osama Abdel-Hay, head of the syndicate, these issues need to be addressed promptly to ensure quality medicine in Egypt. Abdel-Hay has been leading the syndicate since his election in 2023.
One of the main concerns is the increasing number of medical graduates, but fewer doctors practising medicine. Abdel-Hay attributes this to the new medical schools in Egypt and the skills of those emerging from the faculties of medicine. He stated that there are concerns about the quality of medical education, particularly in private schools that lack the required teaching hospitals. The syndicate regulates medical practice in Egypt and has the power to grant licences to practise medicine.
The Medical Syndicate has announced that it will deny some medical graduates licences to practise medicine due to a lack of clinical training. Abdel-Hay emphasized that studying medicine requires clinical training, which is a crucial part of medical education. He explained that the five-year academic studies and two-year supervised training in hospital are essential for a doctor to diagnose and prescribe effectively.
Egypt's medical education system has a long history, dating back to the establishment of the first school of medicine as a military hospital 100 years ago. The Cairo University School of Medicine, also known as Al-Qasr Al-Aini Faculty of Medicine, was established with an affiliated hospital. Over the years, several new faculties of medicine were established, and by 2011, there were almost 25 universities in 27 governorates with associated hospitals.
However, Abdel-Hay noted that out of 18 private schools of medicine in Egypt, only four have the required teaching hospital. He expressed concerns about the current system, where some private schools of medicine train their students in other teaching hospitals, which are often overloaded with students. The syndicate has been pressing for private medical faculties to establish their own teaching hospitals.
The expansion of medical education has led to a massive increase in the number of students enrolled in medical faculties. Abdel-Hay cited the example of Al-Qasr Al-Aini, which has seen a jump from around 1,000 students to 4,000. He emphasized that this poses a significant teaching challenge, particularly in hospital training, which should be intense and cross-departmental.
The Medical Syndicate is lobbying to ensure that private universities abide by the legal conditions that allowed them to operate. Abdel-Hay stated that the campaign has started to pay off, with some private universities taking steps to establish their overdue hospitals. The syndicate aims to ensure that quality teaching and training are available to all medical students, regardless of the institution they attend.
Key points
- The Medical Syndicate is pressing for private medical faculties to establish their own teaching hospitals to ensure quality medical education.
- Egypt's medical profession faces challenges in quality of care due to a decline in the number of qualified physicians and concerns over medical education.
- The syndicate regulates medical practice in Egypt and has the power to grant licences to practise medicine.
