Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO91
2007-01-15 05:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
PARLIAMENTARIAN IMPLICATED IN MEDICAL CORRUPTION
how-toVZCZCXRO7888 PP RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB DE RUEHEG #0091 0150502 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 150502Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3186 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0156 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS CAIRO 000091
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ELA
INL FOR CLINE/VERVILLE
PASS TO FDA
AMMAN FOR WHITTLESEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCOR TBIO TSPL EG
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIAN IMPLICATED IN MEDICAL CORRUPTION
SCANDAL
Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.
UNCLAS CAIRO 000091
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ELA
INL FOR CLINE/VERVILLE
PASS TO FDA
AMMAN FOR WHITTLESEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCOR TBIO TSPL EG
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIAN IMPLICATED IN MEDICAL CORRUPTION
SCANDAL
Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.
1. (SBU) A potential corruption scandal involving NDP
parliamentarian Hani Sorour ignited following accusations
that his medical supply company's sub-standard equipment is
responsible for the death of a 50 year old man who died of
kidney failure following a contaminated blood transfusion.
The company, Hydellina for Advanced Medical Industries,
supplied 250,000 allegedly tainted blood bags to Egyptian
hospitals in 2006. Ministry of Health Officials have formed
a technical committee to review the sale of the bags, and the
Parliament will soon debate stripping Sorour of his immunity
from criminal prosecution.
2. (SBU) According to press reports health officials
questioned the quality of the bags when they were looked at
for potential export. Poor standards have allegedly led to
the growth of a corrosive fungus in some bags. Health
Minister El-Gebali told press that the plastic in the bags
violated international standards, noting that the Egyptian
National Authority for Medicinal Control and Research, and
not the Ministry of Health, is responsible for monitoring
blood bag quality.
3. (SBU) The controversy, which has received significant
attention from local media, was the topic of debate on
several high profile TV shows on Jan 9. On satellite channel
El Mehwar's "Ninety Minutes," former parliamentarian El Badri
Farghali called for legislation banning parliamentarians
personally benefiting from business deals with state
authorities.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (SBU) Egypt, which has the highest rate of Hepatitis C in
the world largely due to sloppy medical procedures, is
continuing to suffer from low standards of medical hygiene.
While smelling of corruption, this case also highlights the
dire need to raise the overall level of health standards.
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ELA
INL FOR CLINE/VERVILLE
PASS TO FDA
AMMAN FOR WHITTLESEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCOR TBIO TSPL EG
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIAN IMPLICATED IN MEDICAL CORRUPTION
SCANDAL
Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.
1. (SBU) A potential corruption scandal involving NDP
parliamentarian Hani Sorour ignited following accusations
that his medical supply company's sub-standard equipment is
responsible for the death of a 50 year old man who died of
kidney failure following a contaminated blood transfusion.
The company, Hydellina for Advanced Medical Industries,
supplied 250,000 allegedly tainted blood bags to Egyptian
hospitals in 2006. Ministry of Health Officials have formed
a technical committee to review the sale of the bags, and the
Parliament will soon debate stripping Sorour of his immunity
from criminal prosecution.
2. (SBU) According to press reports health officials
questioned the quality of the bags when they were looked at
for potential export. Poor standards have allegedly led to
the growth of a corrosive fungus in some bags. Health
Minister El-Gebali told press that the plastic in the bags
violated international standards, noting that the Egyptian
National Authority for Medicinal Control and Research, and
not the Ministry of Health, is responsible for monitoring
blood bag quality.
3. (SBU) The controversy, which has received significant
attention from local media, was the topic of debate on
several high profile TV shows on Jan 9. On satellite channel
El Mehwar's "Ninety Minutes," former parliamentarian El Badri
Farghali called for legislation banning parliamentarians
personally benefiting from business deals with state
authorities.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (SBU) Egypt, which has the highest rate of Hepatitis C in
the world largely due to sloppy medical procedures, is
continuing to suffer from low standards of medical hygiene.
While smelling of corruption, this case also highlights the
dire need to raise the overall level of health standards.
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
RICCIARDONE