Houthis Seize 20% of Revenues of Health Sector Facilities

Houthis Seize 20% of Revenues of Health Sector Facilities
Houthis Seize 20% of Revenues of Health Sector Facilities

Houthi militias in Yemen have gone beyond the pale by seizing 20% of the financial income of hospitals; clinics; and medical laboratories working in Sanaa. The Iran-backed guerrillas will funnel the collected funds to their senior leaders.

The arbitrary measure follows Houthis demanding that major hospitals and clinics; as of August; start paying the salaries of hundreds of its fighters; well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat under conditions of anonymity.

For the last two weeks; Houthi militants staged a far-reaching campaign that saw them install surveillance cameras over accountants' offices in over 80 private hospitals; 960 public clinics; 195 medical laboratories; and 890 private clinics.

The absurd monitoring system is also meant to help the Iran-backed militia tighten its grip over the finances of the health sector and discover if institutions are hiding any revenues from the group.

Meanwhile; health workers in Sanaa affirmed that the campaign could not come at a worse time; given that the sector still is suffering from systematic targeting and extortion.

Anti-campaigns

As for the latest levy imposed on health facilities; Houthis demand that 20% of total income be paid as "Khumus" to their leader's family.

"Under many pretexts; Houthis have launched widespread campaigns against health sector facilities. In one of the campaigns; more than 110 private medical centers were closed in Sanaa and other areas run by the group;" sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Health workers and local reports have affirmed that the Houthi systemic targeting of the sector had triggered a hike in hospital and clinic fees; impacting the lives of thousands of Yemeni patients.

Moreover; Houthis have raised the fees for health sector licensing.

Each doctor now needs to pay 40;000 Yemeni rials to the group to practice medicine in areas of their control. Before the coup; medical practitioners paid the state a fee of 1;500 Yemeni rials.

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