Sanofi is a global leader in healthcare. No one would say the opposite.

However, one of their managers in the Middle East has responded rudely on their twitter to the tragic death of an Egyptian doctor, whose death has resulted in a wide upset in the public opinion.

How did it all start? 

The morning of the 24th of May 2020 was very bleak. Dr. Walid, who’s a 31-year-old obs/gyne resident in El Monira General Hospital, Egypt, has died that day suffering from the COVID-19 epidemic in his workplace, leaving a widow and a 5-month-old baby orphan.

Following his death, the social media platforms have received many outrageous reactions against the ministry of health and its subsidiaries, demanding that they should protect their manpower over their beneficiaries if they want to overcome this epidemic. Strangely, one of these reactions was driven towards Sanofi, initially after the hideous tweets published by one of their managers in Egypt, Nibal Dahaba. 

Naturally, humans tend to spread condolences after death events, by which their manager has fought furiously against in her Twitter account. Addressing the angry trend, she stated unpleasantly that physicians should die for their mission. Not only this, but also she asked physicians, indifferently, “why are you so upset about death?”. Ironically, isn’t it what Sanofi and doctors do for a living; fighting death!

A normal human being, by contrast, would sympathize with Dr. Walid’s cause, which has dramatically become ours, the Egyptian doctors, in these desperate times. Nonetheless, their manager insisted on lecturing us about the morality of whether we should kill ourselves for others or die for them in favor of the so-called Hippocratic oath. We, on the other side, insist that it is under the Egyptian Health Syndicate's authority to question doctors' commitment to their oath. Additionally, Dr. Walid did not abandon his workplace in these trying times and fought bravely against this deadly virus. It is our duty and willingness to follow his path and honor his memory.

What is even more depressing is that Dahaba has tried miserably to control the backlash towards her previous statements with a cold post on Facebook, which has then been followed by another wave of polarized trends in social media favored to her side. Now, despite her damage control attempt, Dahaba has become a public figure for those who stand against doctors' entitlements. Therefore, we believe that this is a professional paradox, as Dahaba would not contribute positively to the Egyptian healthcare system if she believes, or represents those who believe, that healthcare workers do not have rights.

To Sanofi CEO's, your manager in Egypt, Dahaba, has neglected her code of conduct, work ethics, and scientific curriculums, we think that she should be deemed untrustworthy, thus removed from her position in your company. We won't be able to tolerate such an unprofessional attitude from your managers towards tragic events such as DR. Walid's, or towards our entitlements.

In conclusion, to Sanofi, while we value your influence and presence in the health market in Egypt very much, we cannot turn a blind eye to such insults to healthcare workers from your manager, Dahaba. On this occasion, we ask you politely to fire her. Unfortunately, not doing so would leave us no choice but to implement a national-wide boycott against your products, which is not preferable for both of our parties.

On behalf of thousands of Egyptian doctors.

Yours,