MP Abdulameer Alerts on Hospital Closure Leaving 36 Jobless and Hundreds of Patients in Limbo_

TDT | Manama

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MP Zainab Abdulameer has raised concerns about the ongoing closure of a private hospital in Bahrain. The closure, which has dragged on for nearly eight days, has left 36 Bahraini employees jobless and thrown the treatment of countless patients into disarray, despite them having already paid for their care upfront.

Abdulameer who chairs the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee in the Council of Representatives, stated that roughly 200 staff members, including 36 full-time Bahrainis, have not seen their salaries for two and a half months. Another 14 Bahrainis, employed part-time while holding other jobs, are also affected. She has been liaising with the Ministry of Labour and the Labour Minister to push for quick resolution of the salary issue.

Adding to the concerns, hundreds of patients who had started treatment at the hospital have found themselves abandoned mid-way through their care. The hospital, mired in financial trouble, is unable to provide refunds or continue treatment, leaving patients in a difficult position.

Last Wednesday, the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) visited the hospital and instructed the management to pull all promotional materials and advertisements for its services.

Abdulameer also highlighted that the hospital, which began operations in Bahrain in 2019, is primarily owned by Amanat Holdings (80%) and Osool Asset Management (20%). The latter is the investment arm of the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO). She noted that the pension fund has incurred losses from various unprofitable ventures, with this hospital being the latest example, having shut down in under five years.