A PRIVATE hospital that is at the centre of a four-year pay row has been closed for “maintenance”, according to a health regulator.
The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) said that International Hospital Bahrain (IHB) will remain shut until it meets all the necessary requirements.
However, it did not specify what issues needed addressing.
The private hospital that opened in 1978 on the Budaiya Highway faced financial difficulties following the 2011 unrest and is yet to settle pending salaries of its employees including doctors, nurses and technicians.
“The closure was based on the inspection visit carried out by the NHRA team before granting a licence renewal,” said NHRA chief executive officer Dr Maryam Al Jalahma.
“The NHRA received a letter from the hospital owner that he will close the hospital until the required maintenance is completed, according to Resolution 16 for the year 2016 of the requirements in private facilities both technical and engineering requirement.
“The hospital will remain closed until all requirements are met.”
Dr Al Jalahma said NHRA teams have been conducting inspections since last year and have shut down several departments in the hospital.
“We closed all the internal facilities which first included laboratory and radiology departments, and the clinic was only left open,” she added.
“However, now we also received their request to close the clinics for full maintenance.”
The GDN reported in July last year that IHB’s new management claimed it uncovered “serious financial irregularities” since it took over operations in November.
This, according to IHB staff chief and ophthalmology department head Dr Basil Al Zeerah, significantly added to the issue of outstanding salaries owed to medical and administrative staff.
Meanwhile, a former IHB staff told the GDN yesterday that several of his colleagues were still waiting for their pending salaries despite the case being dealt with by the Labour and Social Development Ministry.
“Now the hospital is shut down, what will happen to our dues?” asked the former staff, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“The hospital is facing a crisis situation that has led to its closure and I just hope they pay all the pending dues with indemnity to all their staff.”
Hospital officials could not be reached for a comment yesterday, with some reports claiming it was a temporary closure for only three months.
However, an employee told the GDN that while the hospital was closed its administrative office was still operating normally.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))