Bahrain to be 1st GCC nation to issue e-birth certificate

Manama : The first electronic birth certificate issuance programme in the GCC region will be launched in Bahrain soon. 

The move is in line with the Government’s decision to utilise more advanced technologies in providing healthcare service.

This was announced during a meeting held yesterday by members of the House of Representatives, Health Ministry and the eGovernment Authority.

Parliament Services Committee Chairman Abbas Al Madhi, eGovernment Authority Deputy CEO Zakariya Al Khaja, Health Ministry’s Health Information Director Khalid Al Jalahma and a number of officials and MPs also attended the introductory meeting.

The project, according to the meeting, launched in cooperation with the Health Ministry, the eGovernment Authority and Bahrain Post would save time and effort, once
completed. 

 “The processes of registering newborns and issuing birth certificates would take just a few days to complete. Previously, around four weeks were required. This would also reduce the requirement of manpower by 50 per cent, as the new system would require only five employees to operate, instead of the existing 10 employees,” it was revealed.

The project would also serve the government’s cost cutting measure, while maintaining high quality services.

Al Khaja also said that the authority has adopted a bunch of initiatives to improve services, following the directives of the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

On his part, Al Jalahma confirmed that the system would include healthcare institutions in both public and private sectors. 

Explaining further, he said that it would only include simple steps that allow parents to register the names of their newborns electronically through www.bahrain.bh, in addition to issuing Central Population Register (CPR) numbers, birth certificates and fees payment.