Bahrain: Parliament Calls for Regulation of Private Hospitals

The Daily Tribune, 13 November 2024: The Parliament has called on Bahrain’s health regulator to address high fees at private hospitals accusing some of creating a “false image” of quality by inflating costs – a step towards fairer healthcare for all.

The proposal has urged the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) to step in and monitor private healthcare fees.

Parliamentarians have pointed out that many citizens turn to private care due to long waits at public hospitals, only to face the added strain of high costs.

The CEO of Taj Medical Group has added perspective from the private sector, noting that recent regulatory price cuts have intensified competition but could also impact standards of care.

Certain hospitals have slashed fees to unsustainable levels in an effort to dominate the market, which can compromise quality.

There is no oversight on what private hospitals charge, inflated fees risk turning fair healthcare into a luxury rather than a basic right.

He has also emphasised that any monitoring should be grounded in carefully reviewed standards to ensure effective oversight, adding that robust criteria would be essential to maintain service quality without stifling the sector.

The proposal, now approved, calls on NHRA to make certain that healthcare remains fair and accessible to all, without placing undue financial burdens on citizens.

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Bahrain: 20% Bahrainisation Rule For Tenders Approved

The Daily Tribune, 20 November 2024: The Parliament has approved a proposal requiring companies bidding for government tenders to ensure at least 20% of their workforce is Bahraini.
The measure, designed to tackle unemployment and prevent misuse of Bahrainisation certificates, passed by majority vote, though some called for a more ambitious target.
The move seeks to give more jobs to Bahrainis in service contracts, with compliance overseen by the Labour Ministry or other relevant bodies.
Backers said it is a step towards reducing reliance on foreign workers in common roles such as consultancy and accounting.
Concerns were raised about companies potentially abusing the system to appear compliant.
Investigations showed firms gaining Bahrainisation certificates just to win tenders, undermining the purpose of the rule.
The Labour Ministry must ensure proper enforcement.
One of the proposal’s backers pointed to a growing trend of contracts going to foreign firms, stating that many of these deals involve general services that Bahrainis could easily handle.
By setting a minimum 20% Bahrainisation rate, more opportunities can be created for the local workforce.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by sectors like construction, there were calls for higher rates in less labour-heavy fields.
The 20% figure was described as a starting point, with suggestions for steady increases over time.
However, some dismissed the threshold as too low, advocating for a 50% minimum to better reflect the worth and skills of the local workforce.

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