Egyptian court grants doctors ‘contamination allowance’ of $127.7

Egypt’s administrative court issued a “historic” decision Saturday to grant doctors a “contamination allowance” – an amount of money given in compensation for the risk of contracting diseases -according to a statement by the Doctors Syndicate, which had requested the allowance.

The administrative court accepted the syndicate’s request to increase the allowance and canceled a previous decision to reject their request.

“This allowance should be fair and abide by the request of the plaintiffs and the adversaries involved,” the court decision read.

The statement added that the syndicate had requested an increase in allowance to reach 1000 Egyptian pounds (US$127.7) monthly.

The current allowance is about 15-30 EGP, the syndicate said, and doctors are the most exposed to contagious diseases, especially respiratory diseases, blood diseases and Hepatitis C, which led to the death of a number of doctors in the past year.

“The people carried out two revolutions against social injustice and disparities in income, calling for social justice for all its people who made this country their refuge and residence, so facing their needs and granting a proper quality of living achieves social peace and national security,” the court decision said.

The decision will be implemented by a decision from the prime minister, according to the 2015 civil service law.

The syndicate said it will take legal measures in order for the government to announce the court decision so it can come into effect.

“The court decision is just the beginning, requiring united efforts between the syndicate and the doctors, until an executive decision enacts this just court decision,” the syndicate said.

source: Ahram Online