A CALL has gone out to expand Bahrain’s main hospital vertically in a bid to reduce the pressure on its existing facilities and manpower.
Five MPs from the Strategic Thinking Bloc, led by Ahmed Al Salloom, have proposed a massive extension of Salmaniya Medical Complex, with at least four floors added to the present six-storey building.
Mr Al Salloom, who is also the area MP, stressed the need for a comprehensive study on the feasibility of the proposed plan.
SMC was opened in 1959 and work on all sections and departments was completed in 1978.
“I am not an engineering expert to determine the structural strength of the existing buildings,” said Mr Al Salloom.
“However, engineering consultants that I have spoken to believe that building materials used for SMC are strong enough and that more floors can be easily accommodated,” said Mr Al Salloom.
“The durability of materials used is very important and the government made the right decision 65 years ago to spend more on strong buildings that could last longer.”
He urged the relevant authorities to launch a comprehensive study, claiming that SMC had exceeded its capacity years ago.
“One visit to the clinic building at SMC is more than enough to understand the medical situation,” said Mr Al Salloom.
“Large numbers of patients are crowded in the corridors, they cannot find chairs to sit on, and they are waiting for long periods of time to see the doctor.
“I believe the reason is that all patients are being referred to SMC without receiving treatment and medications at health centres. Their numbers exceed tens of thousands and it is time health centres in all four governorates do more to avoid overcrowding in the main government hospital.”
He claimed that there was a shortage of personnel, equipment, medical beds, medicines, ambulances, and parking lots at SMC and that it was the biggest problem being dealt with by the health sector in general.
“The National Health Insurance Scheme (Sehati) will minimally reduce pressure on SMC when implemented as it will direct traffic to the private sector, but private hospitals, King Hamad University Hospital and the BDF Hospital combined will continue to lag way behind SMC,” said Mr Al Salloom, who is also Bahrain Chamber board member.
“Not everyone will be willing to pay 40 per cent of the cost should they go to the private sector and so SMC remains the only destination available free of charge.”
Meanwhile, Government Hospitals chief executive Dr Mariam Al Jalahma told the GDN the proposal was in the right direction and studies on further expansion would be conducted.
“Vertical construction is a viable option but we don’t know if it will be 10 or 12 storeys or any more or less, it is all dependent on professional studies that also include available empty ground spaces and existing buildings,” she said.
“But any additional space means an expansion to existing services or an inclusion of new vital health services that are now in the forefront worldwide or those coming in the future.”
The GDN reported in 2021 that a 10-year strategic plan for SMC includes seven new specialty clinics and massive revamps to existing facilities.
Former health minister Dr Faeqa Al Saleh told the Shura Council that expansion work at SMC has been divided into short-term and long-term targets that would be achieved according to set time frames.
However, at that time she stressed no additional storeys would be added to the existing buildings although the idea was a possibility.
Since 2018, the GDN has been reporting on plans to make SMC autonomous, giving it operational freedom in terms of administration and finance, free of governance by the Health Ministry.
The autonomisation strategy aims to transform government hospitals into self-service providers.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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