NCHR visits Abbasiya hospital for mental and neurological health

Within its mandate to monitor human rights conditions in healthcare institutions and grounded in the principle of the right to health as a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution and international treaties, a fact-finding mission from the National Council for Human Rights conducted a field visit to Abbasiya Hospital for Mental and Neurological Health. The mission aimed to assess the quality of services provided and their compliance with human rights standards.

The mission was led by Dr. Wafaa Binyamin and Mr. Abdel-Gawad Ahmed, members of the Council, and included several researchers from the Council’s technical secretariat. This visit was part of ongoing cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population and reflects the Council’s commitment to monitoring and evaluating the conditions of vulnerable groups within psychiatric care institutions.

The visit included tours of key hospital departments, such as the voluntary treatment wards for men and women, the addiction treatment center, and the geriatric department. The delegation also held direct consultations with patients and medical staff to inquire about the conditions of residence, the standard of healthcare provided, and the challenges faced.

Dr. Wafaa Binyamin, head of the mission and Council member, emphasized that the visit aimed to verify the alignment of therapeutic services with principles of human dignity and the right to mental health, particularly given the sensitivity of the patient groups served. She noted that the mission would submit relevant recommendations to the competent authorities.

Mr. Abdel-Gawad Ahmed, a mission member, stressed that such visits are a cornerstone of the Council’s work and an effective means to observe field realities and ensure that treatment institutions uphold human rights in their daily practices, especially regarding the treatment environment, patient liberty, privacy, and non-discrimination.

During the visit, the mission held a discussion session with hospital officials, including Dr. Wissam Abu Al-Fotouh, Director of the Central Administration of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment; Dr. Ahmed Gamal El-Din El-Nahas, Director of the Central Administration of the Technical Secretariat; and Dr. Emad Meshali, General Director of the hospital. The session addressed service development plans, existing challenges, and ways to strengthen safeguards for patients’ rights.

At the conclusion of the visit, the mission announced it would prepare a comprehensive report containing observations and practical recommendations aimed at supporting institutional efforts to improve mental health services and ensure patients’ fundamental rights in a safe treatment environment that preserves their dignity and meets their needs, in accordance with relevant national and international stand

ards.