Patients treated at state’s expense entitled to free transfer to hospital

CAIRO - 28 March 2020: An Egyptian patient who has been granted treatment at the state’s expense is entitled to be transferred from his home to the hospital and back for free, a high court has ruled.

The Supreme Administrative Court said it would be “absurd” if a citizen is given free healthcare but not a free means to receive it, if that does not also pose a threat to their life.

Healthcare is one of the government’s most important commitments towards citizens if performed properly, the court added.

The ruling comes as the country tries to curb coronavirus by a curfew, the suspension of traditional education and other measures.

Confirmed coronavirus cases have been transferred in an ambulance from their homes. Government-owned hospitals, rather than privately-owned ones, deal with the coronavirus patients either free of charge with insurance or at low prices.

The tally of people who tested positive for coronavirus stand at 536 Friday, of those 30 have died, 116 have been released, and 147 have tested negative after treatment.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi allocated LE100 billion to counter the novel virus, also making a number of economic decisions to assist businesses and individuals during this rough time.