Panel to visit Bahrain hospitals to check medical negligence

Manama : With the aim of enhancing supervision on healthcare institutions in the country, a parliamentary committee yesterday commenced a series of field visits to public and private hospitals and health centres.

The visits will examine the quality of healthcare services provided in medical institutions and report on the causes behind the recent increase of medical negligence cases in the Kingdom, as stated earlier by MP Mohammed Al Maarifi, Head of the special parliamentary committee formed to investigate the quality of medical services at public and private medical centres.

Committee members commenced their field visits by visiting the Psychiatric Hospital in Salmaniya yesterday. The committee’s Deputy Chairman Jalal Kadhim stated yesterday that committee members were briefed about the latest statistics of the hospital, in regards to the numbers of patients, visitors, staff and medications available.

The MPs discussed with the hospital’s administration members the main issues and challenges facing the facility, including the shortage of staff and beds, in addition to the lack of several important medications.

Kadhim said the visit included the patients’ records department, pharmacy, consultants, prisoners and addicts’ rehabilitation department and other sections of the hospital.

In addition to Al Maarifi and Kadhim, committee members include MPs Mohsin Al Bakri, Osama Al Khaja, Theyab Al Nuaimi and Fatima Al Asfoor.