Conference discusses ways to reform health insurance sector

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa deputised President of the Supreme Health Council Lt-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa to open the First Gulf Health Insurance Conference and Exhibition. The event, which is organised by the Supreme Health Council, kicked off yesterday at Isa Cultural Centre under the theme “Developing the Health System: the Gulf Vision on Applying Health Insurance”.

It was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, ministers, former Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, GCC Health Ministers, GCC Secretary General Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani, Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh, Director General of the Gulf Health Council Suleiman Al Dekhil, senior invitees and participants.

The Supreme Health Council President conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. He expressed heartfelt thanks and gratitude to HRH the Premier for his continuous patronage of international conferences hosted by Bahrain which underlines keenness to support the development process of the health sector in the kingdom.

In his opening speech, Dr Shaikh Mohammed emphasised Bahrain’s unflinching keenness to provide top quality health services for all people in Bahrain. He hailed the kingdom’s hosting of the First Gulf Health Insurance Conference and Exhibition, under the auspices of HRH the Premier. He said Bahrain strongly believes that providing distinguished healthcare is an inherent right for every person. He noted that holding the key conference underscores Bahrain’s keenness to attract specialised medical conferences that bring together international competencies to exchange medical expertise and build regional and international partnerships to boost sustainability of health services.