According to the 2023 “Egypt in Numbers<\/a>” report from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, there were 1,832 practicing psychiatrists in 2021, with 22 government hospitals<\/a> and around 5,209 beds. The number of outpatients and emergency department visits in general and central hospitals specializing in psychiatry and neurology during that year reached about 259,458 citizens, with approximately 1,866 patients admitted.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In his discussion with Zawia3, Osama Abdelhay, head of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate<\/a>, highlighted that the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment is the entity responsible for detailed data on psychiatrists and their geographical distribution. While the Ministry of Health relies on the syndicate\u2019s reports for its statistical bulletins, attempts to reach responsible authorities have yielded no responses thus far, as the ministry did not respond to our inquiries.<\/p>\n In an official statement by the Ministry of Health in July 2023, spokesperson Hossam Abdelghaffar noted that the number of mental health facilities in Egypt reached 223, with a total capacity of 11,628 beds, including 1,747 addiction treatment beds in government facilities and 4,508 in private institutions.<\/p>\n Zawia3 also reached out to Menan Abdelmaksoud, Secretary General of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, but she declined to cooperate, citing the need for prior approval from the Ministry of Health. Despite attempts to reach Abdelghaffar again, we received no response by the time of this report\u2019s publication.<\/p>\n In a related context, Abdelghaffar later clarified in a statement that the number of registered specialists and consultants in the National Council for Mental Health amounted to 849, in addition to 187 independent medical evaluators and 70 inspectors in regional mental health councils. This figure totals 1,106 psychiatrists providing mental health services nationwide.<\/p>\n The statement further indicated that 55,057 cases were admitted to mental health facilities last year, with 19,528 cases in government institutions and 35,529 in private institutions.<\/p>\n Don’t miss: Shortage of Psychiatric Medications in Egypt: A Daily Struggle for Survival<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \n Psychiatrists’ Health<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Mustafa Mohamed, now in his thirties, recalls the period after his graduation when he worked 27 shifts a month, each lasting 24 hours. \u201cI would go home only three days a week, and despite wanting to learn and earn a good salary to build a future and start a family, I have not been able to achieve that so far,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Mahmoud Ali, a psychiatry consultant from Asyut, had a similar experience before migrating to Australia four years ago. \u201cI worked 24-hour shifts for only 86 EGP, and when the number of shifts exceeded ten per month, I received no additional pay,\u201d he shares, explaining that he could not refuse these extra shifts to avoid penalties.<\/p>\n After migrating to Australia, Mahmoud\u2019s situation changed drastically. \u201cThe difference is huge. In Australia, I am paid for every extra minute I work, and I earn at least 130 dollars (6,288 EGP) for a single phone consultation,\u201d he says. He added that the treatment of doctors in Egypt cannot be compared to the situation abroad, describing the conditions for doctors in Egypt as akin to “servitude.”<\/p>\n In 1997, a presidential decree consolidated all mental health hospitals<\/a> under unified management supervised by the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, covering hospitals such as Abbasiya, Helwan, and Khanka in Greater Cairo, as well as Al-Maamoura and Abbas Helmy in Alexandria, along with other hospitals in the Delta and Canal cities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Mahmoud Fouad, Executive Director of the Egyptian Center for the Right to Medicine, comments on the migration of Egyptian psychiatrists. He states, \u201cPsychiatrists, like their colleagues in other specialties, suffer from low wages and long hours without incentives.\u201d He notes that the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Neurology, affiliated with Egypt\u2019s Ministry of Health, has not considered improving these doctors’ standards through support, education, or development in their field to provide better patient care. Additionally, the absence of a specific budget for psychiatrists makes migration abroad the best option, with little likelihood of their return.<\/p>\n Fouad adds that psychiatry in Egypt suffers from a shortage of doctors, requiring ongoing studies to improve practitioners’ skills\u2014a challenge given the high cost of education. He highlights that Gulf countries have capitalized on this gap by offering attractive packages to Egyptian psychiatrists, leading to a severe shortage of qualified staff in Egyptian hospitals.<\/p>\n \n Increase in Resignations<\/strong><\/p>\n In April 2022<\/a>, the Egyptian Medical Syndicate released a report indicating a notable increase in doctors resigning and obtaining “free doctor” certification. In 2016, approximately 1,044 doctors resigned, with the number rising to 2,549 in 2017. By 2018, 2,612 doctors resigned, and in 2019, resignations further increased to about 3,507. In 2020, 2,968 doctors resigned, while in 2021, the number reached a high of 4,127, bringing the total resignations between 2019 and 2022 to 11,536 doctors. However, the report did not specify the number of psychiatrists within these figures.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Among these doctors was Marwa Abdel-Aal, a psychiatrist from Sharqia, who moved to England with her husband, also a doctor, a year and a half ago. She explains that the primary reason Egyptian doctors migrate is low wages, as salaries in government hospitals sometimes do not exceed 3,000 EGP per month, which is insufficient to live on. \u201cThis salary is completely inadequate given the current economic circumstances,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n She added that there is a global demand for psychiatrists, which has opened up numerous opportunities abroad. She explained that working abroad means fewer hours and higher salaries, reducing the mental exhaustion doctors in Egypt endure due to the heavy caseloads. \u201cIn England, the salary is sufficient to live comfortably without stress. I work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and don\u2019t have to work in multiple places to cover my expenses,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n Similarly, Iman Ahmed (a pseudonym), a psychiatrist from Mansoura in Dakahlia, had to leave for England six years ago due to low pay and the difficulty of balancing her professional and personal life. \u201cIn Egypt, if you want a decent salary, you have to sacrifice part of your family life. That\u2019s why I chose to leave,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Before leaving, she earned only 2,000 EGP per month despite holding a master\u2019s degree. Iman decided to emigrate because of the high workload and the limited opportunities for doctors in rural areas. She explained that she could not travel to Cairo for scheduled training due to the distance and her responsibilities as a mother.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/\u062e\u0637-\u0641\u0627\u0635\u0644-\u0632\u0627\u0648\u064a\u0629-\u062b\u0627\u0644\u062b\u0629.png\")
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