Egypt's doctors' syndicate has strongly rejected a proposal to allow pharmacists to shift their profession to become physicians after obtaining the necessary equivalent studies.
The syndicate refused to attend a meeting this week to discuss the matter because of its expected negative repercussions.
In an official statement, the syndicate said that it is totally rejected this suggestion as it harms Egyptian citizens' health and Egypt's medical reputation abroad, as there is “no precedent” for such a move in the modern history of the profession.
“Each group in the medical staff has a very significant role conducted under professional and scientific principles depending on the type of theoretical and practical studies received over long years,” the statement said, adding that no group in the profession can replace another.
“Those seeking to join the medical profession and be responsible for Egyptians’ lives should join medicine faculties, with a license of practice given only upon their training and graduation,” the statement read.
It is worth mentioning that, pharmacists are suffering from unemployment and lack of job opportunities at home and abroad as a result of the large surplus of graduates, which estimated at 45,000 pharmacists annually.
As a result of the saturation of the internal and external markets, the sector suffers from unemployment, while doctors have a clear deficit due to their working conditions that push them towards immigration. Last year about 3,500 Egyptian doctors emigrated abroad.
Immediately after the syndicate's rejection, Dr. Hussein Khairy, the doctor's syndicate head was informed that the meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday to discuss the suggestion is canceled.
Contributed by Nada Mustafa
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