Bahrain and Israel pledge to further enhance cooperation in health sector

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain and Israel have agreed to further enhance cooperation in the medical and healthcare sector.

This came as Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh discussed with Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, who is on an official visit to Bahrain, along with a delegation.

The visit by the Israeli delegation comes within the framework of following up on enhancing means of cooperation between the two sides in the sector.

Israel will be supporting Bahrain on a host of matters including emergency preparedness, training nurses and doctors, mutual recognition of licenses to practise medical professions.

Israel also welcomes Bahraini patients to undergo treatment there as per the agreements made.

The meeting began with the Bahraini Minister welcoming the visiting delegation, praising the level of continuous cooperation between the two sides.

They stressed the importance of widening the horizons of relations between Bahrain and the State of Israel for the benefit and development of the two countries, especially the opportunities for cooperation in the fields of health and medicine, in a way that achieves common aspirations.

During the meeting, Dr Walid Al Manea, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, gave a presentation on the health system in Bahrain, and the system’s achievements and progress during the past century.

All topics that were placed on the agenda of the visiting delegation’s visit were discussed, and the mechanism of cooperation for the future work plan was detailed.

Minister Al Saleh stressed that such meetings and developments in the relations between Bahrain and Israel will be reflected in the continuation of the march of renaissance and progress witnessed by Bahrain.

She noted that mutual support will be provided to serve common interests and enhance opportunities for cooperation between the two sides.

During the meeting, the delegation praised the warm reception and hospitality, the robustness and development of the health system in Bahrain, and the level of efficiency of the qualified national health staff, who are putting in their best efforts following the approved international standards.

The Minister of Health expressed her thanks and appreciation for the continuous cooperation and coordination to achieve the aspirations of cooperation between the two sides in the health field.

The delegation visited King Hamad University Hospital, Salmaniya Medical Complex and Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa Health Centre, in addition to the Supreme Council of Health.

Bahrain and Israeli governments last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the health field, on the sidelines of the visit of Naftali Bennett, Prime Minister of the State of Israel to Bahrain, a few weeks ago.

The MoUs encompassed various areas including strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries and exchanging experiences in areas of common interest such as combating global epidemics, emergency management, medical and pharmacy systems, education, training and medical simulation, data protection in the fields of medicine and public health, in addition to exchanging information and experiences, visits by specialists, and establishing large-scale joint economic and health projects as well as research.