Outcry as Administrative Control Authority official attacks hospital chief

Medical and technical staff at several Libyan hospitals have voiced strong discontent at what they described as a “humiliating and inappropriate” exchange involving a representative of the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) during an inspection of Tripoli Central Hospital on Tuesday, 9 September 2025.

In a statement obtained by Libyan Express, the signatories said Dr Asim Bokra, the hospital’s general director and a specialist in general surgery and kidney transplantation, was subjected to verbal disparagement and a public confrontation in front of staff and members of the public—an incident they described as “a clear affront to the dignity of medical and administrative work.”

The statement stressed that the shortcomings raised during the visit—such as limited resources and poor storage of some older equipment—were not the result of administrative neglect, but rather of delayed responses by the relevant authorities despite repeated official correspondence.

It added that circulation of a video of the incident on social media harmed the reputation of the hospital and its staff, creating a negative impression that does not reflect the efforts being made under difficult working conditions.

Staff called on the relevant authorities to:

• Open a formal investigation and hold to account anyone who exceeded professional bounds.
• Remove the circulated video and address its media impact.
• Issue an official restoration of reputation (apology) to the hospital director and staff.
• Review field communication practices of oversight bodies to ensure professionalism and mutual respect, without resorting to public shaming.

The statement concluded that medical teams do not object to oversight or inspections; on the contrary, they welcome them when conducted through proper channels and in ways that preserve the dignity of health-care workers who continue to perform their duties amid limited resources and mounting challenges.