Bahrain News: NEWS WRAP: Expatriates to benefit from new insurance law

EXPATRIATES will be the first beneficiaries of the new National Health Insurance Law that will be implemented early next year, revealed Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh.

She said expats were already covered by health insurance in payments they make towards the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), which makes it easier for the new insurance plan to implement.

“Referring expats to the private medical sector will certainly speed up check-ups and certification, especially for those working in sectors that require hygiene, from months to mere days and would ease pressure on government facilities for required regular treatment or emergency,” she said.

“We have already started implementing this on a test basis and have seen thousands of expats on the waiting lists of our dedicated health centre significantly reduced and more ideas towards enabling the private sector to handle expats are on the way.”

Social housing upgrade

A NEW social housing scheme that sees families getting homes from the private sector is set to be improved, revealed Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer.

He said the new version of Mazaya and Mazaya Plus will enable families to get plots, renovation and maintenance, and also buy homes besides the only current option of buying homes on instalments.

The minister added that 3,500 families have benefited from the scheme since it was launched less than two years ago.

“We have significantly reduced the waiting lists with Mazaya scheme and are working to have at least 70 per cent covered from the lists in the next four years with new innovative housing products,” he said.

“It is also much cheaper to build on Mazaya since payments would be made over 25 years, while the homes we directly built sees contractors paid immediately at once upon completion.”

Action plan outline

AN outline for the new four-year Government Action Plan is being prepared in line with mechanisms and programmes that would be adopted in the upcoming years. Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed Al Mutawa said, in a Press conference following a session on ‘Future Aspirations: 2019-2022’ as part of the Government Forum 2018, that it would be left to the new government to build on the ideas that would be presented to them.

Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain said the programme would be subject to give and take with new MPs.

“In the end everyone is working to serve the people in the best way possible with all aspects being covered,” he said.

“We have suggested ideas for change and it is line in with the demands of the next phase and we will inform MPs beforehand so they will know what to expect.”

Greetings sent

MANAMA: His Majesty yesterday sent a cable of congratulations to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his country’s National Day.

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, also congratulated the Turkish leader.

Success hailed

MANAMA: The Premier sent a cable of congratulations to the third FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving high committee chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa, marking the success of the event. The Premier took pride in the outstanding organisational efforts that highlighted Bahrain’s standing and its reputation as an international forum organiser.

UK ties hailed

MANAMA: Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa received British Minister of State for the Middle East Alistair Burt and his accompanying delegation and reviewed relations and growing co-operation between Bahrain and the UK. Mr Burt lauded Bahrain’s development, commending growing relations between the two countries. The meeting was attended by British Ambassador Simon Martin. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa met a parliamentary delegation from the UK, headed by MP Amber Rudd from the Conservative Party, here to take part in the Manama Dialogue. The minister hailed solid ties with the UK and close co-operation between both countries.

Award for EDB

GENEVA: The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) has won the UN’ Investment Promotion Award for excellence in boosting investment into sectors that will help meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The award acknowledges EDB’s work with Amazon Web Services that is set to launch its first Middle East ‘Region’ in Bahrain in 2019. The award is a recognition of Bahrain’s success in transforming into a digital economy, with the AWS investment a central pillar of efforts to support long-term economic growth and creation of high quality jobs. Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani received the award at the World Investment Forum in Geneva.

BUSINESS

SPORTS

OPINION