Medical care: PM seeks report

Manama : Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has directed the Minister of Health to submit an urgent report on the level and quality of medical care and treatment provided by the public health institutions in the Kingdom.

The direction was given in the Cabinet meeting held at Gudaibiya Palace yesterday, which was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

“The report should include suggestions on ways to develop the public health institutions and rectify the shortcomings,” the Premier said.

“Any decline in the advanced level of the medicalcare services provided by the government will never be accepted, and the citizens have to enjoy the best health services, whether at government-funded hospitals or private ones,” the Premier said.

The order comes in the wake of the death of two Bahraini children due to alleged medical negligence.

Four-year-old girl, Layla Khamees died in her father’s arms at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) while waiting to be treated on Thursday. Another Bahraini boy Yousif Madan died on his way to SMC on Tuesday night after initially being told that he was fine by doctors at SMC.

The Prime Minister has also sought a transparent and impartial probe into the death of the two children and take measures if medical and administrative negligence is proved.

The Premier has stressed that it is not acceptable that negligence affects the quality of the sectors, services and the achievements attained by the government in every field, Cabinet Secretary General, Dr. Yasser bin Essa Al Naser said in a statement after the session.