ONLY Bahrain residents would be licensed to set up private general or specialised hospitals and medical centres, under a Shura Council proposal that will be debated during the weekly session on Sunday.
It also states that only Bahrainis should be allowed to open private speciality health clinics across the kingdom.
Amendments to the 2015 Private Medical Establishments Law further stipulates that those licensed or any of their partners should have no criminal record.
Inmates who have received a ‘good conduct’ certificate after serving their terms, or have been pardoned, will be allowed to set up medical facilities.
The Supreme Council for Health, in co-ordination with the National Regulatory Health Authority (NHRA), will have the power to determine additional administrative criteria on the basis of education and experience.
Inheritors of health facilities would be allowed to continue operations – if a qualified Bahraini doctor runs the centre on their behalf. The doctor will be responsible and answerable for all activities, if summoned by authorities, while inheritors will be banned from interfering in daily affairs.
The amendments by five members are being spearheaded by woman and child committee chairwoman Dr Ebtisam Al Dallal.
A vote will be taken to refer the matter to the services committee for further review with health officials concerned.
According to the proposed amendments, all private health establishments will have to maintain extensive medical records, which can be accessed by the authorities.
All medical, health and safety equipment, connections and arrangements will have to be checked through inspections with those found below international or acceptable levels being removed immediately.
Advertisements that breach or degrade the profession will be prohibited under the amendments.
Health authorities will have the right to launch investigations anytime, irrespective of whether a complaint has been filed or not.
Hospitals or clinics that fail to renew their licence will have to pay a fine equivalent to 10 per cent of the fee to the NHRA, monthly for up to three months. Failure to pay the fee or fine could lead to suspension of the licence after three months.
All private establishments will have six months to comply from the day the amendments appear in the Official Gazette.
“The amendments should help more private medical facilities to open in the country under clear criteria and conditions,” said Dr Al Dallal.
Investments
“Expatriate doctors could be allowed to open their clinics and speciality centres, but it has to be under a comprehensive complex run by a Bahraini doctor, with the original right reserved to nationals.
“In case of bigger medical investments, expat residents could be allowed to set up hi-tech facilities.
“Inheritors will be also allowed to continue operations without disruption under the management of a Bahraini medic with full authority.”
She added that the current fines – equivalent to the fee, which are doubled monthly – for failure to renew licence was tough and could lead to issues with other government bodies that are probably causing the delay.
Meanwhile, Shura is also set to debate a royal decree amending the 2006 Labour Market Regulatory Law issued by His Majesty King Hamad during Parliament’s recess last year. It aims to have a strategy drawn up by the Labour and Social Development Ministry in consultation with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority.
The national employment strategy could include caps on expatriate work permits depending on circumstances. It will cover four years instead of the present two under the decree.
Shura will also take another retrospective vote on a decree to amend the 2014 Engineering Professions Regulatory Law. They are also set to agree with MPs to reject parliamentary amendments to the 2006 Labour Fund (Tamkeen) Law that would give micro, small and medium enterprises a quota in the board.
The government revealed that support was already being given to 3,932 micro, small and medium enterprises compared with 433 large and big companies.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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