A TOTAL of 179 doctors were appointed in the public health sector in the country of whom 150 were Bahrainis.
There is no shortage of doctors in Bahrain’s government healthcare facilities, except in some sub-specialties, said the Health Ministry, adding that medics were being trained to bridge the gap at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
The ministry was responding to observations in a parliamentary report discussed in the lower chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The GDN reported yesterday that MPs also called for the resignation of Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh, alleging severe shortcomings in the service and accusations of incompetence.
The MPs referenced numerous medical errors, lengthy waiting times for treatment and appointments, shortages in essential facilities and medicines, as well as an absence of proper planning procedures.
However, the ministry in a statement reiterated that Bahrain’s health sector is strong and cohesive and is constantly witnessing a qualitative leap.
The litmus test to the efficiency of the high-quality health services in the country was the ministry’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, it pointed out.
“There is no shortage of doctors in hospitals and health centres in general, but rather a shortage of some sub-specialties,” said the ministry.
“The employment of doctors in the ministry is subject to vacancies, available budget, and provisions of the Civil Service Law.
“To increase the number of consultant doctors in the sub-specialties at the SMC, the ministry sent 36 doctors abroad during 2018-2020, while another 15 will be sent this year.
“Despite the current focus of efforts on combating Covid-19, training programmes have not been cancelled.
“Around 80 doctors are accepted annually in training programmes to specialise in various medical departments to qualify them.”
The ministry also added there was no provision to prohibit working for 12 continuous hours when needed in a service ministry. However, it clarified that doctors do not work for 12 hours continuously, which it said would affect their efficiency, patient safety, and service quality.
Meanwhile, the ministry said that it has achieved the goal of reducing medical errors with statistics showing two cases in 2018 and one each in 2019 and last year.
“The ministry is working to record all medical errors and accidental accidents that occur in hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
“Submitting complaints does not necessarily mean an increase in medical errors,” said the ministry explaining that the process involved referring the complaints to National Health Regulatory Authority’s (NHRA) technical committee for investigation.
“According to the recorded facts, there was no increase in medical errors.
“There is no evidence of a relationship between medical errors and shifts of medics.”
Technical and logistical obstacles in purchasing and supplying medicines were attributed as reasons for the shortage of drugs, as against the claims of a lack of budget.
“Sometimes there are delays in the arrival of medicine shipments, while there are also delay by some companies in the supply.
“Some countries stop manufacturing the materials, while some medicines do not pass the analysis tests in the ministry’s quality laboratory for their quality during the manufacturing stages.
“All of these leads to delay in the arrival of the required shipments that conform to the specifications.”
Pharmacies failing to register medicines for approval with the NHRA, apology from some pharmacies, and fluctuating exchange rates were also listed as reasons.
“The ministry has taken a number of measures to avoid shortages by providing an electronic link system with pharmacies, in addition to the DUR (Drug Utilisation Review) project, which is implemented by the Supreme Council of Health in co-operation with government hospital pharmacies as a first stage,” said the ministry adding that private hospitals will be included in an advanced stage.
In the light of Covid-19, the ministry, after studying the impact on the current stock and based on expectations of demand for stocks, has floated a tender to cover the need for this year and next.
“Work is underway to implement a complete electronic system that monitors the process of dispensing, receiving and storing, which allows clear tracking of the drug.”
The ministry said it opened evening clinics for long-term specialties and increased the capacity of some specialties to reduce the waiting period for appointments at the various departments at the SMC.
“Controls have also been put in place to transfer patients from health centres to SMC and they are in the process of final review in preparation for accreditation.”
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