Bahrain is moving to tighten its grip on unlicensed medical and paramedical practices.
The government has submitted two urgent draft laws to Parliament, aimed at strengthening patient safety and reinforcing professional accountability across the healthcare sector.
Under both draft laws, anyone who practises medicine, dentistry or an allied medical profession without a licence – or manages a facility without authorisation – would face imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to BD5,000, or both.
The amendments also criminalise obtaining licences through false information or illegal means, impersonating licensed practitioners, and using advertising or signage that misleads the public into believing an individual is authorised to practise.
Crucially, the changes make closure of clinics or premises and confiscation of equipment discretionary, rather than mandatory, allowing courts or administrative authorities to assess each case on its merits.
The proposed legislations were referred in a letter from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam.
MPs are expected to vote during Tuesday’s session to refer both bills to the services committee, with the legislative and legal affairs committee asked to provide its observations.
The first draft law amends Article (29) of Decree-Law No (7) of 1989 on the practice of human medicine and dentistry.
The second amends Article (23) of Decree-Law No (2) of 1987 governing the practice of allied (paramedical) professions by non-physicians and non-pharmacists.
Together, they form a co-ordinated push to modernise penalties, close loopholes and ensure consistency across health-related legislation.
According to the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, this shift gives judges greater flexibility while still preserving strong deterrence.
It also unifies penalties between laws governing doctors, dentists and paramedical professionals, creating a single standard across the sector.
Authorities would still retain the power to administratively close facilities where violations are suspected, pending a final criminal ruling.
The commission said the amendments are intended to ‘enhance legal coherence and ensure proportionality in punishment, without weakening the protection afforded to public health’.
Government memoranda accompanying the draft laws stress that the reforms are driven by the need to protect patients from unqualified practitioners and to maintain confidence in Bahrain’s healthcare system.
Unlicensed practice, officials warned, exposes patients to serious risks and undermines the integrity of licensed professionals who meet strict regulatory standards.
The amendments also align with existing legislation such as the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedures Law, the law establishing the National Health Regulatory Authority and the Private Health Institutions Law.
Once formally referred, both draft laws will be examined by the services committee, which will assess their social and sectoral impact, while the legislative and legal affairs committee will review their constitutional and legal soundness.
The twin bills signal a clear message as explained by the government – Bahrain intends to zero in on rogue practitioners, reinforce professional discipline and ensure that only properly qualified and licensed individuals are allowed to provide medical and paramedical services in the kingdom.
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