Egyptian Health Minister Mohamed Hamed said on Monday that 200 hospitals and 3, 800 health units across the country should be completely demolished and restructured for they are no longer fit to operate or provide medical services, reported Al-Ahram.

The minister added that government hospitals are suffering from a lack of medical staff where in governorates such as Sohag, Qena and Assiut, there are no doctors in the health units.

Hamed pointed out that even though government hospitals do not lack capabilities, the equipment is not being used properly, adding however that 70 hospitals will be developed within the current year.

Egypt only allocates 4.8 percent of its state budget to health - a percentage that is very low in comparison to the international community.

Egyptian doctors began a strike in October demanding better conditions, including higher payments and enhanced security.