Health dose
With in the country’s ongoing expenditure- cut procedures, Bahrain is intending to lessen the number of citizens sent for treatment abroad, by providing more medical services here in the Kingdom.
This was stated yesterday by Parliament and Information Affairs Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi during a press conference at Gudaibiya Palace following the weekly Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
The minister said the step could save the annual cost of treatment abroad, which is borne by the government, clarifying that “an amount of money is allocated by the Health Ministry every year for patients to be treated abroad”.
“The Health Ministry revealed today that a committee has been set up to study the issue in more details and provide the Cabinet with proposals on the most appropriate mechanisms to adopt instead of the existing ones,” the minister informed.
He elaborated, saying, “Due to the lack of some medical disciplines in Bahrain, many citizens are sent abroad for treatment. Other alternatives are being studied like organising visits for specialists to be temporarily available for consultation in Bahrain and providing the treatment that is sought-after abroad in the Kingdom.
“Private hospitals are already providing this kind of service but what is being observed is the possibility to provide those services through the Health Ministry, in order for such services to be available at Salmaniya Medical Complex the Military Hospital, King Hamad University Hospital and health centres,” he said. The Premier had also instructed Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry to take further steps to protect public facilities across the Kingdom, the minister said.
Photo Caption: Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chairing the Cabinet meet yesterday.
Related Posts