Bogus clinics and unlicensed doctors and paramedical practitioners could soon face stiffer jail terms and heavier fines as MPs seek to toughen penalties for illegal medical practice.
Proposed amendments to Bahrain’s medical licensing laws, set to be debated in Parliament on Tuesday, aim to unify and sharply strengthen punishments for a wide range of offences in both medical and paramedical professions.
The services committee has approved two closely linked draft laws amending Article (29) of the 1989 Medical Practice Law and Article (23) of the 1987 Allied Health Professions Law, aligning both under a single tougher criminal framework.
The reforms target a range of violations – including practising medicine or paramedical professions without a licence, operating illegal clinics, falsifying credentials, or using misleading advertisements to imply professional qualifications.
Under the revised framework, penalties will be strengthened. Offenders will face imprisonment of up to five years and fines reaching BD5,000, or either penalty. Courts will also be empowered to order the closure of illegal facilities and confiscation of equipment, while administrative suspension can be imposed immediately pending criminal proceedings.
The bill replaces earlier provisions that imposed lower penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment and BD2,000 fines, and made closure and confiscation mandatory in some cases.
Under the new draft, courts and administrative authorities will have broader discretion in applying closure and confiscation measures based on the severity of the offence.
Services committee vice-chairman MP Abdulwahid Qarata said the amendments were essential to close legal gaps and reinforce public safety standards.
“We are dealing with a matter that directly affects human life and public health. The law must be firm, unified, and clear so that there is no ambiguity in prosecuting those who exploit the medical sector without authorisation,” he said.
He added that aligning penalties across both medical and allied health professions ensures consistency in enforcement.
“There can be no disparity between similar offences. Whether it is a clinic or a paramedical facility, the legal consequences must reflect the seriousness of the violation,” Mr Qarata said.
The National Health Regulatory Authority reported a steady rise in violations in recent years, recording two cases in 2023, five in 2024, nine in 2025, and four cases so far in 2026.
Legislators said the trend highlights the need for stronger enforcement tools, particularly as misleading advertising and unlicensed practice remain persistent risks in the healthcare sector.
The services committee also stressed that the amendments align with Bahrain’s wider health governance framework under Law No (38) of 2009 establishing the National Health Regulatory Authority, as well as private healthcare legislation introduced in recent years.
Mr Qarata emphasised that the goal is not only punishment, but deterrence.
“These amendments send a clear message: public health is not an area for experimentation or illegal gain. Enforcement must be decisive to protect patients and maintain trust in Bahrain’s healthcare system,” he said.
If passed, the reforms will establish a unified penalty structure across medical and paramedical professions, marking one of the most significant updates to Bahrain’s healthcare regulatory framework in recent years.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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