Patient’s safety first

Manama : Bahrain’s premier healthcare regulatory authority yesterday revealed stringent actions against 53 medical practitioners for medical negligence. 

The move, intended to ensure high quality medical care, follows Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa’s directives to tackle the growing rate of medical negligence in the Kingdom. 

Voicing its strong resolve in this regard, National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), which deals with the complaints related to healthcare in Bahrain,  said it received 171 complaints against hospitals both in the private and public sector. 

The authority put 24 doctors, 23 nurses and six assistants in the dock after it investigated into 57 complaints registered. 43 disciplinary actions were taken against the defaulters.

Thirteen doctors were suspended following the probe, while 14 others were let off with warnings. 

Revealing details of the probe during a press conference, NHRA CEO Dr. Mariam Al Jalahma said around 54 per cent of the complaints were against private healthcare institutions. Public hospitals closely followed with 46pc complaints. “Around 67pc of the complaints received were related to emergency, maternity, orthopaedic and dental,” she added. 

Twelve out of these cases were referred to the disciplinary committees and one taken to the Public Prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Health Council Chairman Lieutenant General Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said he has directed the NHRA to increase the working days of the disciplinary committee to prioritise complaints.

NHRA is also investigating alleged ‘medical negligence in the recent death of two Bahraini children. Earlier, four-year-old Layla Khamees  died in her father’s arms at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) while waiting to be treated.  Another Bahraini boy Yousif Madan died on his way to SMC after initially being told he was fine by doctors at SMC. A third child Abdulla Mahmood Jassim who was 18-months-old also died of medical complications.

Parents of the children had accused SMC and health centres of medical negligence adding that their children’s tragic death could have been avoided by the timely intervention of the concerned authorities.