Skip to main content

Egypt won't cure you

Egypt’s “Complete Cure Device” scandal is another black mark on its disastrous and humiliating health care system.

Patients wait to see a doctor at Al-Moniera public hospital in Cairo October 2, 2012. Egypt's doctors began a partial strike on Monday with varied demands, including making the health budget 15 percent of the state budget, and improving security conditions to protect doctors and patients from assaults, said representatives from the Doctors' Syndicate. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh  (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT HEALTH) - RTR38P11
Patients wait to see a doctor at a public hospital in Cairo, Oct. 2, 2012. — REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

CAIRO — In April 2012, I attended a news conference at which the Muslim Brotherhood's powerful financier and strategist Khairat El-Shater announced both his candidacy in the presidential election and the "Renaissance Project," which he claimed would put Egypt among the world's richest countries within his first term as president. Weeks later, Shater was out of the 2012 presidential race and Mohammed Morsi became the Brotherhood's second pick, dubbed by Egyptians the "spare tire."

Morsi placed less emphasis on the Brotherhood's Renaissance Project, but during another news conference I attended at one of Cairo's poshest hotels in May 2012, he declared his "100-day plan." Flanked by his aides, bodyguards and political lackeys, Morsi declared that within his first hundred days in office, he would resolve Cairo's security, traffic, garbage, fuel and bread issues. I turned off my voice recorder, stopped taking notes and looked at the bearded liar as he shamelessly vowed to resolve the decades-old crises of a city of 20 million.

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in