A total of 360 complaints related to alleged medical errors and ethical violations were documented by Bahrain’s health watchdog, with more than 60 per cent of cases registered against the private health sector, according to its latest report.
The report released by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) recently covers its work in 2024, from inspections and the accreditation of health centres to the licensing of medics and clinical trials.
The annual document states that of the total complaints, 251 were individual complaints, six were listed as incident reports, and 103 were referrals from judicial authorities for legal proceedings.
“The Medical Complaints and Investigation section (at the NHRA) reviewed 360 complaints and jurisdictional cases throughout the year (2024), with medical errors identified in only 22pc of cases,” states the report.
“As a result, disciplinary measures were issued against healthcare professionals and facilities found to be in violation of medical standards.”
Among them were:
- Eleven licence suspensions for healthcare professionals that included nine doctors and two pharmacists.
- Four licence cancellations which included three doctors and one healthcare facility.
- Six formal warning notices – issued to five doctors and a pharmacist.
- Thirty-six financial penalties imposed on health facilities.
In addition, NHRA’s disciplinary committee took action against 17 doctors, three pharmacists and pharmacies, and 40 health facilities.
The report adds that in 53pc of the cases investigated, ‘no medical errors or violations of principles, obligations, or requirements were identified’.
“These results reflect the department’s commitment to rigorous oversight, ensuring accountability while promoting patient safety and upholding the integrity of healthcare services,” the report said.
Comparatively, according to the agency’s 2023 annual report, a total of 320 cases were registered that year, and medical errors or ethical violations were found in only 20pc of the investigated cases. A further breakdown of the statistics shows that 66pc of complaints were filed against private healthcare providers compared with 33pc against public hospitals, while one complaint was filed against both public and private medical establishments.
In the 2024 report, the largest number of complaints was classified under dentistry (46), followed by obstetrics and gynaecology (23), orthopaedics (19), internal medicine (14) and general practice (13).
A total of 13 incidents were reported by healthcare facilities in 2024 compared with 19 in 2023, while cases referred by judicial authorities for lawsuits in the latest report totalled 103 compared with 89 in 2023.
Furthermore, the report features a section on non-compliance with standards among hospitals within the NHRA’s Accreditation Programme, which found a number of key observations.
“Non-compliance was noted in conducting water sampling at various levels, which is essential for maintaining hygiene and ensuring patient safety,” the report stated.
It explained that many health facilities lacked adequate internal and external signage, which is vital for effectively guiding patients and visitors throughout the healthcare environment.
Gaps were also found in controlled drug discrepancy investigations that called for facilities to mandatorily establish clear policies for investigating and reporting any discrepancies related to controlled substances.
The report recommended comprehensive policies regulating the use of multi-use vials, ensuring safe practices and reducing the risk of contamination.
“Many medical centres lacked a clearly defined and documented process for identifying equipment that is unfit for use, which is essential for ensuring patient safety and maintaining operational efficiency,” added the findings.
“Deficiencies were noted in fire and safety policies, with several centres failing to address all required procedures in accordance with NHRA standards.
“Comprehensive policies are critical to safeguarding patients, staff and visitors in emergency situations.”
Meanwhile, the report classified violations found during inspection visits by NHRA teams – 111 were medication related violations, 588 were listed under infection control, and 3,642 were classified as general violations. Among infection control violations, 262 cases pertained to sterilisation (262 cases) and 326 were related to waste management.
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