Manama, Nov. 14, (BNA) Developing health services top the priorities of voters who are looking forward to high standard health infrastructure including high tech equipment and qualified staff.
Voters think that such issue ought to be part of all parliamentary electoral programmes .
The electorate are also optimistic to see short and long term plans set to confront diseases and needed medicines provided at affordable prices.
The current Representatives Council's achievements in the health field, made in cooperation with the government, can be summarized in the draft laws and proposals it discussed.
First, it approved a number of draft laws and proposals aimed at developing healthcare services such as the draft law for the year 2002 which led to the Public Health Law, discussed by the council on February 18, 2002 as well as law 11 for the year 2004 which made pre-marriage health check-up compulsory for couples.
On July 18, 2006, the Representatives Council discussed a draft law to create Al Shifa National Fund followed by a proposal to set up a polyclinic in the southern governorate and another proposal to improve health centers' services and alter their working hours.
The council also discussed on January 12, 2005 a proposal to develop the Intensive Healthcare Unit at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and on April 11, 2006 it reviewed another proposal to develop the social specialist career programme at healthcare centers and government hospitals.
On April 4, 2006, the Representatives Council examined a proposal to reinforce the school health programme by appointing specialized nurses at government schools and on March 28, 2006, they discussed the urgently forwarded proposal to earmark a BD-6-million amount to beef up the Health Ministry's 2006 budget.
On the same day, the Representatives Council looked into another urgently forwarded proposal to allot BD 2.5 million to support the Health Ministry's Emergency Department.
Second, the Representatives Council contributed to the construction of new healthcare centers and hospitals thanks to the many draft laws and proposals it discussed including the February 21, 2006 draft law to create the Royal Institute for Medical Research and law number 24 for the year 2005 to approve the loan agreement between the government and the Kuwaiti Arab Economic Development Fund to finance King Hamad Hospital project in Muharraq.
On March 15, 2005, the Representatives Council also looked into a proposal to rebuild East Riffa Hospital and on January 12, 2005, it discussed a proposal to create a healthcare center with 100-bed intake capacity for the treatment of drug addicts.
On the same day, It also discussed a proposal to create a center for the treatment of ulcers and on February 28, 2006, a proposal to create a center for the treatment of sterility.
Third, the Representatives Council was keen on activating regional and global medical cooperation by approving a number of draft laws and proposals including laws number 8 and 5 for the year 2003 regarding the veterinary and agriculture quarantines respectively in the GCC countries and law number 26 for the year 2006 regarding a framework agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat tobacco.
Fourth, upgrading the proficiency of doctors and nurses was the concern of the Representatives Council which was keen on approving proposals such as the one it endorsed on October 26, 2004 regarding the development of the doctor cadre's professional performance and the one relating to the development and modernization of the nursing cadre.
The government took a number of preventive procedures against illnesses and different epidemics on a number of levels, including preventive measures to prevent diseases from entering the kingdom.
This was done by either quarantines, supervision, inspection or observation of newcomers to the kingdom and also birds and animals entering through airports, seaports or land.
This is in addition to working on providing health education for citizens on diseases and epidemics through seminars, lectures and direct meetings with doctors of different specializations.
Bulletins and leaflets containing basic information on various diseases, the way they spread and how they are prevented or treated were also issued and distributed.
In the case of a contagious disease, hospitals and health centers have been equipped with the latest medical requirements and supported by qualified professionals, to deal feasibly with any emergency at reasonable costs.
Moreover, the kingdom's health strategy places training programmes and human resources development on top of its priorities.
The government was also keen to improve the doctors and nurses cadre so that they could carry out their duties while satisfied with their wages.
It is worth mentioning that the kingdom was among the first countries in the region to set laws against smoking in public places as it issued law 10 for 1994 on this matter.
The Health Ministry is also performing an important role in cooperation with other ministries and civil community Organizations to fight smoking.
Awareness and educational programmes have been tailored to all age groups to inform them on the health hazards of smoking.
This in addition to the seminars and workshops held at schools, universities, clubs and various public facilities in the kingdom.
Moving on to the medication policy in Bahrain, the government makes sure that no medicines enter the country unless they meet certain quality standards.
On the other hand, the government looked into the reasons behind the high costs of medication and made contacts with manufacturing companies in this regard as well as it intends to take future steps with the GCC states to act as one entity while dealing with medicine exporting companies.
in a bid to reduce costs.
The BNA tracked health aspirations that electors wish to realize through their candidates in the next parliament, coming with a number of findings.
Firstly, all voters agree on a number of issues that they find necessary to their lives which include medicine at affordable prices and subsidized treatment costs at private hospitals.
Secondly, increasing the number of consultants, doctors and nurses in public hospitals and building more health centers and well equipped specialized hospitals to meet the needs of citizens.
Thirdly, introducing new majors in the college of medicine to reduce the shortage in doctors especially those specialized in delicate diseases.
Fourthly, adopting national campaigns to raise public awareness of various diseases and draw citizens' attention that prevention is often better than cure.
It is expected that the mentioned health issues will top future MPs' lists of priorities, especially that they all have to do with people whom the government considers the backbone of sustainable development.
HMK/NTQ/MT
