Calls have intensified to return medical files of several Muharraq residents to a health centre near their homes amid claims of mounting strain on services.
The Muharraq Municipal Council has revived debate over healthcare accessibility in the governorate, as councillor Dalal Al Meghawi urged authorities to return patient records of citizens in Blocks 203, 205 and 207 from Halat Bu Maher Health Centre to Muharraq Health Centre – a facility located just minutes from their homes.
Speaking during the council’s extraordinary meeting, Ms Al Meghawi warned that the current system forces elderly citizens and families to travel longer distances to Halat Bu Maher centre, causing unnecessary hardship and placing additional strain on an already overburdened facility.
She explained that the affected neighbourhoods were located only a short distance from Muharraq Health Centre, making it the most logical and convenient option for residents, particularly the elderly and families with young children who require regular medical visits.
“These families previously received healthcare services from Muharraq Health Centre,” Ms Al Meghawi said.
“However, their files were later transferred to Halat Bu Maher, which has caused real difficulties for many, especially senior citizens and children. It simply makes sense to restore their files to the facility closest to their homes.”
She added that the current arrangement not only burdens residents, but also places additional strain on Halat Bu Maher Health Centre, which is already dealing with high patient volumes.
“Halat Bu Maher is under considerable pressure, particularly during evening hours,” she said.
“It now serves residents from Al Dair and Arad as well, which affects its capacity and the quality of service it can provide. Returning the files of several families to Muharraq Health Centre would help relieve this pressure and improve healthcare access.”
According to Ms Al Meghawi, a significant number of citizens living adjacent to Muharraq Health Centre continue to be assigned to Halat Bu Maher without a clear justification.
She emphasised that relocating their files to the centre closer to their homes would enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Meanwhile, Muharraq Municipal Council acting chairman Saleh Buhazaa supported Ms Al Meghawi’s proposal, acknowledging the community’s concerns and the need for practical solutions.
“Accessibility is a key factor in public health and the council will communicate with the relevant authorities in the Health Ministry to explore the possibility of returning these files to Muharraq Health Centre,” he said.
Mr Buhazaa noted that the council had previously received multiple complaints from residents regarding the inconvenience of travelling to Halat Bu Maher, especially during peak traffic hours and for individuals without private transportation.
“Our goal is to ensure that healthcare remains within easy reach of every citizen,” he added.
“We appreciate Ms Al Meghawi’s efforts in bringing this matter to light, and we will continue to work with the ministry concerned to achieve a resolution that best serves the public.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))