Health subscriptions to be paid by government

Manama : Citizens wouldn’t have to pay any monthly subscriptions for health services, said  Supreme Health Council (SCH) President Lt General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa.

He rubbished the news reports claiming that people would be compelled to pay monthly subscriptions, stating that the government will pay on behalf of the people, into the Health Insurance Fund.

He said the Council would supervise the application of National Health Insurance Scheme and provide quality services to the citizens.

Currently, the government pays the budget to the Ministry of Health and public hospitals to provide citizens with free medical care. The cost per Bahraini citizen is around BD550 per year. The Health Insurance scheme is based on accurate, detailed health-related data, including the unified electronic medical file, which will be accessible for all hospitals and health centres to enable them to serve wherever the citizen chooses to get medication.

Shaikh Mohammed said the Supreme Council of Health and the Health Ministry would decide the policy to ensure that all citizens receive quality health services. 

“An annual report will be issued gauging patients’ satisfaction with the health services to determine any snags or challenges. It will promptly find suitable solutions for the scheme to win the satisfaction of patients,” he added.

“We are finalising the status of the Health Insurance Law that will be submitted to the government. Then, the government will present it to the legislative authority. Hopefully, the health insurance scheme will be fully operational within three years following its actual application,” he noted.