PLANS have been announced to build three major public hospitals to reduce the burden on Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
They are expected to be up and running in the Southern, Central and Northern Governorates within the next two years, said Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Abdulhai Al Awadhi.
He said the ambitious plan aimed to ensure there was a major public hospital in each of Bahrain’s five governorates.
It will also complement King Hamad University Hospital, Busaiteen, which is due to open soon.
“This is part of our overall expansion plans which includes new specialised units to treat sickle cell and cancer patients at the SMC,” Dr Al Awadhi told the GDN.
“We are looking for an overall improvement of health services in the public and private sector.”
He said that according to Cabinet instructions, officials were taking all necessary steps to open several health centres in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
The GDN reported last week that SMC had been hit by crippling bed shortages, which led scores of patients waiting at the Accident and Emergency Department.
Dr Al Awadhi was speaking on the sidelines of the Healthcare Infrastructure World MENA 2010 meeting held at the Gulf Hotel, which ends today.
Held under the patronage of Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer, it has healthcare professionals, hospital operators and developers and senior officials from the health ministries in Iraq and Kuwait attending.
In his opening address, Dr Al Hamer said many countries were struggling to meet the challenge of providing adequate health care for citizens.
“Changing demographics, increased patient expectations, a global shortage of health professionals and rising costs associated with innovative technologies and new drugs mean that healthcare is consuming an increasingly large proportion of gross domestic product and is becoming a priority for most governments,” he said.
Dr Al Hamer said Bahrain planned to implement evidence-based decisions to shape the future of healthcare and ensure that funds were suitably allocated to develop a sustainable healthcare system.
“Enhancing Bahrain’s health sector is a priority of the government and is signified by the specific objectives within our strategy to ensure access to quality healthcare for all Bahraini nationals and residents,” he said.
Dr Al Hamer also discussed Bahrain’s healthcare agenda through its six strategic objectives and a number of specific initiatives identified by the ministry to bring about further improvements to the existing healthcare system.
These include health promotion and prevention by strengthening primary healthcare services, the provision of quality health services by maintaining international accreditation of facilities and enhancing access to all healthcare services.
SANDEEP SINGH GREWAL
Gulf Daily