Throughout the decades-long unsuccessful process of healthcare reform that took place in Egypt, perhaps the most noticeable defect that was persistently present was the absolute lack of community communication and debate about the suggested laws. The “subjects” of the law (being the entire Egyptian population) were almost completely forbidden from being exposed to the suggested new laws. The civil society had to go through heroic stunts to get the least amount of information on what is being cooked behind closed doors. This constantly put the civil society organizations concerned with an equitable and accessible healthcare system to all, in the position of the antagonist. Always objecting, criticizing and sometimes having to file law suites against the government who almost never managed to listen to them.
Reality is different now (hopefully), it is highly expected that the healthcare reform file together with the education reform one, are going to erupt on the surface of society’s concern as soon as the country has passed this transitional phase. When the issue of healthcare reform is to be opened, it is no longer going to be acceptable to have a paternalistic government, that thinks it knows what’s best for the people, to act on its own according to what it sees suitable.
Just like the constitution of the country, the voice of the people must be the origin of all needed reforms in the upcoming period. Healthcare reform is no exception.
The people decide how they want to be governed, the officials make it happen: This is how it should work!
