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Bahrain delays decision to separate public and private medical practice

MANAMA - Bahrain has announced that the decision to separate public and private medical practice scheduled for next month stands postponed until further notice.

The Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, ordered the deferring of the enforcement of the decision during the cabinet session on Sunday.
The move has been put on hold until finalisation of the study being conducted by the Civil Service Bureau regarding introduction of increments for medical consultants to ensure that a smooth separation of public practice from private practice and it is fair to everybody concerned.
The decision was considered after many patients raised concerns that the main public hospital, Salmaniya Medical Hospital will be empty of consultants as most of them operate from private clinics in the evening. The civil service bureau will study offering those consultants more allowances to compensate them if they will decide to close down their private clinics.
The decision was considered in the first place to protect the rights of patients at public health facilities.
shamada@khaleejtimes.com

• Bahrain