Ministry turns down proposal to reduce KHUH room charges

Manama : A proposal to reduce the fee for private rooms at King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) was rejected by the ministry citing limited headroom for spending due to fiscal constraints, DT News has learnt.

Tabled by five MPs in 2016, the proposal called for equalising private rooms’ fees at KHUH with the other public hospitals in the Kingdom including that of Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services. The proposal also envisaged providing a 50 percent discount for elderly citizens. 

The Services Committee in the House of Representatives was directed to study and discuss it in coordination with the related authorities.

In its response, Defence Affairs Ministry, the authority in charge of the facility, informed the committee that the reduction of the private rooms’ fees is not possible due to the existing budget deficit.

However, the ministry added that elderly citizens will be granted reductions once a request is submitted to the hospital’s management.

Established in 2010, KHUH offers free medical and healthcare services to Bahraini citizens in Muharraq Island, including Hidd, Arad, Galali and all towns and villages on the island. 

Patients outside Muharraq island are required to pay fees that are higher than other public hospitals.

The committee, headed by MP Abbas Al Madhi, supported the proposal and issued a report on it. The 40-member chamber will debate the proposal and the ministry’s and other official authorities’ reply on Tuesday.