Houthis close private hospitals in Sanaa for refusing to pay royalties

The Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health has closed 8 private hospitals in Sanaa and the operations and intensive care departments of 25 private hospitals for refusing to pay the royalties the militias are seeking to impose.

The ministry has decided to withdraw work permits from eight private hospitals operating in Sanaa and shut them down permanently, due to legal problems and lack of infrastructure to be hospitals, according to the text of the resolution.

Twenty-five private hospitals in Sana'a were closed and 11 private hospitals were asked to reform their legal status and complete the remaining requirements for medical work in these health facilities.

The Houthi movement is the first of its kind against Sanaa's private hospitals after escalating disputes between them and Houthi Health Minister Taha al-Mutawakil, following pressure from Houthi militias to impose on them free medical care for Houthi fighters and their families. This is rejected by most private hospitals.