Nearly BD4 million has been collected from non-Bahraini patients for services provided at government hospitals and primary healthcare centres since early 2023.
Health Minister Dr Jalila Al Sayyed revealed that a total of BD3,987,988 was collected from expatriates for public health services – of which BD3,518,787 was paid by visitors to government hospitals between the start of 2023 and October 2025.
A total of BD469,201 was collected from non-Bahraini visitors to primary healthcare centres from the beginning of 2023 until December 2025.
The figures were provided in response to a question by Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee chairman Mahmood Fardan, who sought details of revenues, patient numbers and exemption policies related to non-Bahrainis using public health services.
Dr Al Sayyed said that more than 343,000 expatriate patients who are not covered by exemption decisions accessed government health facilities during the period under review.
Of these 276,234 visited outpatient clinics and emergency departments at public hospitals between early 2023 and October 2025.
She added that 67,028 foreigners sought care at primary healthcare centres from the beginning of 2023 until December last year.
The minister also disclosed that 47,105 non-Bahrainis were admitted as inpatients at government hospitals during the same period.
Dr Al Sayyed stressed that Bahrain continues to maintain a comprehensive and humane approach to healthcare, particularly in relation to exemptions from service fees. She revealed that a total of 258,765 exemption cases were recorded over the past three years, including 45,951 at government hospitals and 212,814 at primary healthcare centres.
Exemptions are granted either on the basis of legal provisions or humanitarian considerations.
“These include, among others, foreign spouses of Bahraini citizens who reside in the kingdom; widows or divorced spouses of Bahraini citizens subject to the same residency condition; and children of Bahraini women married to non-Bahraini men,” Dr Al Sayyed noted.
Additional categories eligible for exemption include GCC citizens, as defined by approved medical classifications, inmates of rehabilitation and correctional institutions, patients who do not hold a nationality and reside in Bahrain, and Bahraini newborns aged between one and two months who have not yet been issued passports.
Government employees subject to the Civil Service Law and their families, provided they are permanent residents, are also exempt.
Dr Al Sayyed said the ministry remains committed to balancing sustainability of healthcare funding with Bahrain’s long-standing principle of providing accessible and equitable medical care.
“These measures ensure that essential healthcare services remain available to those in need, while maintaining financial viability and fairness within the system,” she added.
“The data highlights both the growing utilisation of Bahrain’s public healthcare network by non-citizens and the continuing emphasis on humanitarian and legal exemptions, reinforcing the kingdom’s reputation for inclusive and well-regulated health services.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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