Egypt's medical union on Monday blamed the government for increasing levels of coronavirus infections and deaths among healthcare professionals, its sharpest criticism yet of the country's handling of the pandemic.
Citing growing frustration over a lack of protective equipment, testing and hospital beds for front-line doctors, the union described the Egyptian health ministry's negligence as "a crime of killing by irresponsibility."
The union reported that 19 doctors have died and 350 have contracted the virus, according to official figures, although testing of medical staff remains limited.
"The health ministry bears full responsibility," it said, "as a result of its failure to protect them."