The migration of doctors isn’t just a narrow issue concerning Egypt: rather, it is an indication of how science and serious work are being handled here.

Indeed, the resignation of 117 doctors from Alexandria University hospitals is a message that could topple any government, since working in these hospitals is a doctor’s dream – to become a teaching assistant and then a professor after long years of effort.

In truth, the problem lies with the official handling of the brain drain phenomenon, and doctors specifically, with the same old canard being repeated that they must repay what the state spent on them and prevent doctors from resigning.

This is a disastrous approach, as it ignores the fact that education is a right for citizens, funded by the state from taxpayers’ money.

Therefore, we need to understand the reasons behind the brain drain, especially doctors , out of Egypt.

The climate in which doctors currently work, especially young doctors, is extremely difficult. This is not only due to low salaries but also due to poor working conditions in government hospitals, to the point where they have become the only ones blamed or targeted.

Certain governors use them to showcase their authority, yelling at and referring to members of the medical staff for investigation over superficial reasons – as if the other government bodies and institutions are working perfectly and do not also deserve monitoring and accountability.

The truth is the healthcare system in Egypt has many shortcomings, and that accountability is necessary for any negligent person, regardless of their profession.

Doctors should not be considered ‘untouchable’ – they should be held accountable like everyone else, according to rules and not based on whims or superficial emotions.

Furthermore, we should find the same zeal for monitoring and accountability in the rest of the government.

The state is aware that there is one Egyptian doctor for every 1,100 individuals, while the internationally approved ratio is one doctor for every 400 individuals. It is also aware that there are 220,000 Egyptian doctors registered in the syndicate, of whom 120,000 have emigrated abroad.

Furthermore, figures have indicated the resignation of between 3,000-4,000 doctors from the Ministry of Health each year for the last five years.

Despite the shortage of doctors, low salaries, and limited resources, many have tried to provide the minimum required level of medical service within the available means. Nevertheless, instances of abuse and the targeting of many of them have continued: for example, one incident saw a governor dismiss a doctor from his position as hospital director for sharing joy at a patient’s recovery.

Another incident involved a female doctor being insulted for adhering to regulations and laws.

We need to address the emigration of doctors as part of a genuine effort to reform the healthcare system and understand its accumulated problems, without holding one party solely responsible for this deterioration.

There has been a decline in state spending on health, weak resources, and a shortage of medical staff, all of which are factors that have led to a real crisis in healthcare services.

The resignation of Alexandria’s doctors is a new alarm bell, and it is important for the state to deal with it correctly so that the healthcare system can be reformed.

Amr al-Shobaki is an Egyptian writer, political analyst and managing-editor of Ahwal Masria magazine. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Cairo University (1983), a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Institute of Political Studies in France (1993), and a PhD in Political Science from the Sorbonne University in France (2002).