A PRIVATE hospital at the centre of a three-year pay row has uncovered “serious financial irregularities”, it has emerged.
International Hospital Bahrain (IHB) told the GDN that its new management has been investigating the “depth of the embezzlement” since it took over operations in November.
This, according to IHB staff chief and ophthalmology department head Dr Basil Al Zeerah, has significantly added to the issue of outstanding salaries owed to medical and administrative staff.
The GDN reported on July 13 that the hospital agreed to partially settle pending salaries after several employees and 36 former IHB doctors approached the Labour and Social Development Ministry.
“We are in a period of restructuring and how long (paying pending wages to staff) takes is difficult to say – we have been on it every day and very close to being completed,” said Dr Al Zeerah, who is also the son of IHB owner Dr Faysal Al Zeerah.
“Recently we have found some serious financial irregularities and we are investigating.
“The new team hired by the hospital found this out and I don’t want to say too much because it is ongoing and being looked in to – its depth is being evaluated as to how far it goes back.
“The financial irregularities are a very significant contributor to the backlog of salaries, whereas I don’t know how big it is.
“It is something that we need to look into and not get excited about and we need to deal with it professionally.
“And if there are significant irregularities they will be dealt with.”
He stressed that his father was focused on settling the pay row and did not wish to resort to “an unethical solution”.
“IHB is a WLL (with limited liability) company and it’s easy to take an unethical and loathsome position of saying that we will pay what we are expected to pay and just closed down everything,” he explained.
“However, we have over 250 families depending on us and we have a commitment to the community.
“We are determined to get through this difficult phase and my father is taking the honourable approach with this.
“We acknowledge the delay, but how much longer – we don’t know for sure.”
He added that employees were often supported with “part payments”.
“The employees who are in need do come and they get part of their salaries,” he said.
Challenge
“Last month we paid over 100 employees partially, as we know they have children, rents to pay and loans.”
However, employees who spoke to the GDN on condition of anonymity said the hospital should not hide behind claims of financial embezzlement.
“This is not an excuse for the management not to pay us when we are struggling without money,” said one Bahraini woman.
“Also, we are not paid partially whenever we need the money as they say.
“It was just the maintenance staff who received BD50 each two weeks ago after they were made to work at one of the senior management member’s house.”
Another employee claimed the management challenged them to approach their embassies or the courts.
“In a regular doctor’s meeting, the owner said he would not pay anyone and challenged employees to go to court or to their embassies, adding that ultimately only he would win,” alleged the expatriate.
Allegation
“This was after the Indian employees went to their embassy last week and their ambassador had written to the Labour Ministry which subsequently wrote to the IHB.”
However, Dr Al Zeerah has dismissed the allegations.
“The meeting is held every morning and a lot of discussions come up and I don’t know the validity (of the owner’s statements) as I haven’t heard it or it might have been taken out of context and embellished,” he added.
The 38-year-old hospital located on the Budaiya Highway faced financial difficulties following the 2011 unrest.
In November last year IHB announced plans to relaunch operations with a 35 per cent increase in the strength of medical staff, which included 25 specialist doctors.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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