ALTERNATIVE punishments could be introduced for erring medics as part of a massive revamp of the country’s 32-year-old governing law.
National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) chief executive Dr Mariam Al Jalahma told the Shura Council’s services committee that while insurance against errors for professional practitioners was vital, it shouldn’t be done in a rush.
She explained that the plan – originally proposed by the Bahrain Medical Society (BMS) months ago – had been put off over fears the high cost would make it untenable.
However, it could be implemented soon as the initiative would now come under Sehati, the National Health Insurance Scheme, said Dr Al Jalahma.
Shura is set to debate the proposed amendment to the 1989 Human Medicine and Dentistry Law that would see all medics, including support staff, insured against errors.
The services committee has, however, recommended against the amendment presented by five members.
“Following a proposal from the BMS to amend the law, a full review was conducted by representatives from the government, private and military health sectors,” said Dr Al Jalahma.
“The Supreme Council for Health has backed the revamped law, which we believe would help improve the medical sector.
“Under it, we will introduce alternative punishments like training and supervision amongst others as a replacement for the current system of suspensions or termination of licences,” she said, adding that it would benefit both medical and support staff.
Dr Al Jalahma, however, urged Shura members to put off the amendment until the government presented its full version to the legislative authority.
“Medical insurance against errors is in the pipeline and we wanted to introduce it earlier, but we feared the cost would be high, and postponed it until the national health insurance system is launched,” she said.
Bahrain Private Hospitals Society president Dr Abdulwahab Mohammed said forcing medical establishments to shoulder the cost of insurance against medical errors would be a burden for them.
“The insurance should be paid through an understanding between managements and medics, and the percentage each would pay could be determined by the establishment,” he said.
He was backed by BMS board member Dr Amal Al Ghanim, who said insurance against errors was a priority, but the cost shouldn’t be shouldered exclusively by the establishment.
“We have taken an acceptable approach to the issue in our review of the law over a year and we urge legislators to wait before taking any decision,” Dr Al Ghanim said.
Bahrain Chamber health committee deputy head Dr Lamya Mahmood urged legislators to wait, saying that the medical insurance mechanism needed a thorough study.
Shura will also debate amendments to the 2018 Competition Protection and Encouragement Law.
The Cabinet has asked for a rethink, saying the law was fresh and needed time to achieve its set goals. MPs had rejected it last month.
Shura’s financial and economic affairs committee, headed by Khalid Al Maskati, is also against the law.
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