MP urges Ministry to stop transferring medical staff

Manama: A  parliamentarian has urged the health authorities to stop transferring medical staff from Budaiya Health Centre.

MP Jalal Kadhem Al Mahfoudh called upon the authorities to urgently appoint Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) specialists at the health centre.

The move follows the decision to redeploy patients to various local health centres, instead of providing them treatment at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).

“Around 70 patients visit the centre daily and each of them requires around 20 minutes. This calls for the urgent need to increase staffing rather than reducing it,” Al Mahfoudh stated.

He also claimed that transferring the staff do not justify the practical wisdom as hundreds of new residences would be added to the area once the Northern City housing project is
implemented.

In response to the lawmaker’s statements, Health Ministry said it is committed to provide health services, as per the directives of the leadership.

“The authorities have decided to expand the nursing services as Budaiya Health Centre as it is currently experiencing less
patients due to the recent opening of Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Health Centre in the neighbouring Barbar village,” the ministry said in a statement
yesterday.

“Despite that, Health Minister Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh has directed to postpone the transfer of staff until further studies are conducted to ensure that it is not negatively affecting the services provided including in Budaiya,” the statement
added.

The ministry also assured that it will provide high quality treatment to SCD patients.