Health tourism visa and new supervising committee included in Shura draft law

TDT | Manama

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Invoices, upfront quotes and a health tourism visa would be introduced for medical visitors under a Shura Council draft law that also creates a national committee to coordinate the sector and increases what hospitals must tell patients before they fly in.

The proposal, put forward by Shura members Dr Jameela Al Salman, Dr Jehad Al Fadhel, Dalal Al Zayed, Dr Ebtesam Al Dallal and Ali Al Aradi, would require health providers to publish and stick to declared prices, give patients itemised bills, and submit periodic reports to the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), which would oversee compliance.

Health establishments seeking to agree treatment with a patient before arrival would have to send a written invitation explaining an estimated diagnosis and the documents relied upon, the proposed course of treatment, major risks linked to the treatment because of its nature or the patient’s circumstances, and an assessment of expected outcomes.

Quote

The invitation would also need to include a detailed price quote for the proposed treatment, alongside an approximate estimate for extra treatments outside the original plan that may be needed.

The draft defines a health tourism visa as an entry permit allowing individuals to enter Bahrain to receive health services. It defines the service recipient as any person who enters the kingdom for that purpose.

Services

Health tourism services are described in wide terms, covering examination, diagnosis and treatment, as well as nursing, healthcare, dietary programmes, accommodation and convalescence.

The definition also covers related support such as first aid, medicines, lab work and radiology tests, and allows the Supreme Council of Health to specify other similar services by decision.

Alongside the pre-arrival invitation requirement, the draft would place duties on health establishments providing health tourism services.