Parliament summons health minister over death of dialysis patients

CAIRO – 18 September 2018: Head of the Parliament’s Health Committee Mohamed al-Emari said that the Parliament summoned Health Minister Hala Zayed to discuss the death of three citizens while undergoing dialysis in Sharqia.

In an interview with al-Youm on DMC, Emari said Monday that the health committee is following up on the updates of the incident that took place in Dairab Negm public hospital in Sharqia to disclose the cause of death and punish those behind the incident.

Emari said that Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal approved the information request set to be submitted to the health minister concerning the incident.

The prosecution of Sharqia's Zagazig ordered Sunday the detention of 15 people working in a public hospital where three people died while undergoing hemodialysis, with the cause of the incident being partially unclear to the public.

In the wake of the death of three patients and the injury of others while undergoing dialysis Saturday in Al-Sharqia's Dairab Negm, Egypt's prime minister and health minister affirmed that those responsible for the incident will be severely punished.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed the authorities will deal decisively with those found guilty by the investigations, adding that the government will not allow similar incidents to take place in the future.

Health Minister Hala Zayed also affirmed taking legal measures against those behind the incident. Although nobody has been officially accused yet, Zayed revealed further critical details about the probable cause of the victims' death.

Zayed indirectly accused the company responsible for the maintenance of the dialysis unit inside the hospital, saying that this company has carried out maintenance to the unit for six months. However, this time, complications took place directly after the maintenance of the unit.