SICKLE cell patients were yesterday promised improved health services and facilities at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
All patients will now be transferred to the care of a specialist after having to settle for experts in other fields.
The pledge came as Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Care members met SMC chief of medical staff Mohammed Amin Al Awadhi.
“We have been categorically told this will happen within the next seven days,” said society chairman Zakreya Al Kadhem.
“At the moment, sickle cell patients are being treated by experts in other specialities, which is not the ideal situation.
“This is something we had been pressing for a while now and we are glad this demand has been accepted.”
The meeting was held on the request of the society, which had been pressing for more facilities for such patients so that fatalities could be reduced.
Mr Al Kadhem said another demand to set up special clinics for sickle cell patients had also been accepted.
“We have been told there will be an announcement very shortly,” he said.
The society had also agreed with the authorities to meet them every six weeks to discuss any problems they might want to discuss, said Mr Al Kadhem.
“We have been told to report directly to the chief of staff any deficiency in service that may happen and he has promised immediate action,” he said.
Mr Al Kadhem said that the meeting was an encouraging sign that matters would improve.
“We are happy the meeting took place and we feel we have no reason to doubt the ministry’s intention,” he said.
Society members also met Parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani at his office in Manama.
“We spoke to him about our various activities as well as brought to his attention some of the problems we face,” said Mr Al Kadhem.
“Mr Al Dhahrani told us he would look into all the issues and promised his support.”
MANDEEP SINGH
Gulf Daily