Health Minister Dr Jalila Al Sayyed stressed that the kingdom already operates a structured pathway for early detection through primary healthcare centres.
“Two-year-old toddlers undergo developmental checks at health centres, and even small doubts lead to referrals for specialist assessment,” she said. “Sometimes autism is associated with other conditions, which is why careful evaluation is required.”
She underlined that there is no link between vaccines and autism, noting that possible causes include genetic or hereditary factors, chromosomal conditions or illnesses during pregnancy such as rubella.
“There is a clear medical pathway in place, supported by trained teams and specialised centres,” she added.
Government Hospitals chief executive Dr Mariam Al Jalahma said suspected cases are referred to the Psychiatric Hospital for extensive assessment lasting between three and five hours before diagnosis and treatment plans are set.
“Medication is only prescribed when there are other associated illnesses,” she said. “The focus is on assessment, therapy and structured intervention.”
From a social care perspective, Social Development Minister Osama Al Alawi highlighted the scale of existing support.
“There are 15,634 people registered with disabilities in Bahrain, of whom 2,122 are individuals with autism,” he said. “All receive a BD200 disability allowance.”
He revealed that 55 government and private centres operate under the ministry’s umbrella, offering services that include transportation, specialised programmes and community activities. Inspection campaigns are ongoing to ensure standards are met.
“We are working to integrate individuals into society and into employment, but this takes phases and structured steps,” he said. “There is a national committee dedicated to disability affairs and services are expanding, including online equipment support and free driving lessons for people with disabilities.”
At an education level, Education Ministry Under-Secretary Nawal Al Khater said students with autism are increasingly being integrated into mainstream schools through tailored programmes. “We have trained teachers specialising in autism and individual programmes designed for each student,” she said. “Many students have progressed and transitioned into regular classrooms.”
Despite these efforts, MPs claim significant gaps remain, with some families facing heavy financial and emotional burdens.
Leading the call for debate, MP Hasan Ibrahim said there were approximately 1,700 males and 500 females with autism in the kingdom. “Many families are struggling quietly with the cost of therapy, rehabilitation and education,” he said.
“Private centres charge between BD250 and BD1,000 per month, and there is often no clear pathway for parents from the first moment of doubt to diagnosis and treatment.”
He raised concerns about early assessments, claiming that some were conducted by non-specialists and called for diagnoses to be limited strictly to qualified doctors and consultants, with re-evaluations every six months by multidisciplinary teams.
Mr Ibrahim pointed to long waiting lists at Alia Early Intervention Centre, praising it as a model while noting capacity challenges. He called for a comprehensive national autism strategy integrating healthcare, education, social services and employment pathways, alongside increased financial allocations reflecting the real costs borne by families.
MP Bader Al Tamimi shared a personal perspective, noting that his sister’s first child had autism. “Private centres cost between BD300 and BD1,000 monthly, and many families simply cannot afford this,” he said.
MP Dr Mariam Al Dhaen stressed the need to train parents and expand employment opportunities for individuals with autism later in life. “It is a social responsibility that requires real co-ordination, sufficient resources and clear policies to ensure integration is a reality, not a slogan,” he said.
Yesterday’s debate is later expected to compel ministries to present detailed data on service capacity, future expansion plans and existing gaps – potentially paving the way for legislative and executive action toward a more inclusive national framework for autism care.
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