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Image used for illustrative purpose. Doctor and nurse reading medical chart in hospital room.
Bahrain - Forty-five newly licensed healthcare facilities were established in Bahrain last year, an increase from 2017, according to latest statistics.
This brings the total number of facilities in the country licensed by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) to 716 compared with 671 in 2017.
Majority of the healthcare facilities are optic centres with 131 establishments, followed by 24-hour medical clinics (111), general medical centres (95) and dental centres (91).
The country also has 60 health units, 41 specialised centres, 30 physiotherapy centres, 21 hospitals, 21 dental clinics, 20 dental labs, 18 alternative medical facilities, 16 laboratories, 12 rehabilitation centres, 11 company clinics, nine residential nursing care facilities, nine nutrition centres, six audio centres, six 24/7 centres, five psychological counselling centres, two radiology centres and one telemedicine centre.
These were detailed in the Bahrain Health Guide 2019, which was released yesterday by NHRA chief executive Dr Maryam Al Jalahma at the Sheraton Hotel, Bahrain.
The first-of-its-kind publication in Bahrain, marking World Health Day, has been described as a “sourcing guide” for the country’s healthcare industry.
World Health Day was celebrated across the globe yesterday under the theme ‘Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere’ and co-related with the World Health Organisation’s new five-year strategic plan initiated early this year and focused on a triple billion target.
“The guide aims at promoting all healthcare facilities in Bahrain that are licensed under the NHRA,” Dr Al Jalahma told the GDN.
“We are releasing such a guide for the first time with all details including those classified under governorate and type.”
The guide also includes interviews with NHRA officials on some of the frequently asked questions, complaints or issues raised by the public.
“These (interviews) include about doctors and by doctors on medical ethics and also on import and export of medicines and other related products including personal packages,” added Dr Al Jalahma.
“We aim to give the public a general idea on NHRA and its role and we will annually update the guide.”
According to the guide, there are 21 private hospitals in Bahrain offering a combined 681 beds.
The Capital Governorate has 15 of the hospitals with 511 beds, followed by the Southern Governorate with four hospitals and 95 beds, while the Northern and Muharraq governorates have one hospital each with 35 and 50 beds respectively.
The Capital Governorate also leads in the types of centres, with 101 general, 90 dental and 49 specialised centres, followed by the Southern Governorate with 37 general, 38 dental and four specialised centres.
The Muharraq Governorate, meanwhile, has 24 general, 25 dental and 14 specialised centres, while the Northern Governorate has 24 general centres, 25 dental ones and 12 specialised facilities.
The guide, compiled by the NHRA in co-operation with the Supreme Council for Health (SCH) and the Health Ministry, is sponsored by various private healthcare facilities.
It will be available in all hospitals across Bahrain and will be launched on social media platforms and the NHRA’s website, www.nhra.bh, soon.
Yesterday’s launch event was attended by Health Ministry public health assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Hajeri, SCH secretary general Ebrahim Ali Nawakhtha, Health Ministry former under-secretary Dr Abdulwahab Abdulwahab, who is also the head of Private Hospitals Association, Bahrain Specialist Hospital board member and managing director Dr Kasim Ardati and other officials and healthcare experts.
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