A pioneering proposal to give a second life to used medical equipment by redirecting it from government hospitals to medical and health sciences colleges for teaching and training purposes has won unanimous backing from the Southern Municipal Council, in a move hailed as a win for sustainability, education and public finances.
The initiative was put forward by council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif, who said the idea stemmed from a simple but powerful question: why should functional medical equipment be sold or auctioned when it can instead shape the next generation of doctors, nurses and health professionals?
“This proposal is about maximising the value of public assets and ensuring that nothing useful goes to waste,” said Mr Abdullatif.
“Medical equipment that has been decommissioned from clinical service often remains perfectly suitable for education and training. Redirecting it to colleges of medicine and health sciences will directly enhance the quality of practical learning and better prepare students for the job market.”
He stressed that the move could reduce financial pressure on universities and training institutions, which often face high costs when purchasing new equipment solely for teaching purposes.
“At the same time, we are strengthening co-operation between the health sector and educational institutions, and reinforcing the national principle of sustainability and rationalised public spending,” he added.
“It is rare to find a proposal that positively impacts the health, education and financial sectors all at once – but this is one of them.”
Councillors believe the initiative could serve as a model for wider asset-reuse policies across government sectors.
“This is a smart, forward-thinking approach,” said Mr Abdullatif.
“It reflects how municipalities can contribute practical ideas that support national development goals while keeping citizens’ interests at heart.”
“If implemented, the proposal could mark a significant shift in how Bahrain manages surplus public assets – transforming retired equipment into tools of learning, and waste into opportunity.”
The council’s services and public utilities committee chairman Ali Al Shaikh said the proposal is fully aligned with existing regulations, including the Unified Financial Guide of the Finance and National Economy Ministry, which allows excluded movable fixed assets to be retained for educational or training purposes.
“This is not only a good idea – it is also legally supported,” said Mr Al Shaikh.
“The regulations clearly allow retained assets to be used for education and training where there is economic feasibility. Instead of selling such equipment or putting it up for auction, we can invest it where it creates long-term national value.”
He explained that students in their foundational and practical stages would gain hands-on experience with real equipment, boosting their confidence and competence before entering clinical environments.
“Our goal is to produce graduates who are better trained, more skilled and ready to serve the community from day one,” he said.
“This proposal helps bridge the gap between theory and practice.”
Following unanimous approval by the council, the proposal has been referred to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak, for review and co-ordination with the relevant authorities.
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