Health Sector

Under the reign of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Bahrain has achieved remarkable developmental accomplishments. It has taken significant steps to enhance the right to health, prioritizing it consistently in all developmental plans and strategies. The Kingdom is always striving to enhance the healthcare sector by providing primary healthcare, improving healthcare infrastructure and public health services, as well as expanding medical specialties through the establishment of specialized healthcare institutions.

The epidemiological screening program for infectious diseases in the Kingdom of Bahrain has witnessed significant development in terms of scope and objectives. The program has transitioned from the stage of controlling infectious diseases when they occur to being prepared and ready for them before their outbreak. This shift aims to ensure control over the epidemiological situation, reduce human losses, and mitigate the financial burdens resulting from these epidemics.

Thanks to these efforts, the Kingdom achieved remarkable success in 2009 in combating the H1N1 pandemic. The Ministry of Health coordinated efforts to monitor the epidemiological situation of infectious diseases, including influenza, to detect any early increase in the number of cases above the usual rate. This facilitated taking necessary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

In the year 2009, a Royal Decree was issued by His Majesty the King, to establish the National Health Regulatory Authority. The aim was to regulate the provision of healthcare in the Kingdom, ensuring appropriateness, continuity, efficiency, and safety in delivering healthcare services, both in the public and private sectors. This was to be based on the best scientific evidence and healthcare practices, and in accordance with international standards.

In 2010, another Royal Decree was issued to establish the King Hamad University Hospital, which falls under the Royal Medical Services of the Bahrain Defense Force, providing services to all citizens. The hospital commenced its operations as a comprehensive university hospital and a centre for accidents and organ transplants. It delivers medical services that embrace the best therapeutic, administrative, academic, and research practices.

In 2013, His Majesty issued Royal Decree Law No. (5) of 2013 to establish the Supreme Council of Health. The council is responsible for developing the national health strategy in the Kingdom, overseeing its implementation with relevant ministries, institutions, and authorities. Over the past years, the council has worked on creating a suitable environment and building necessary strategies to develop the healthcare and medical sector, focusing on enhancing service efficiency, sustaining healthcare resources, coordinating with all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, and establishing connections with international health institutions. The council has emphasized principles of transparency, fairness, and sustainability in Bahrain's healthcare sector.

In 2015, the Occupational Health and Safety Council was formed to outline and monitor the implementation of the general policy in the field of occupational health and safety, ensuring a safe work environment through its duties and responsibilities. Construction of the King Abdullah Medical City in the Kingdom of Bahrain began in 2018, a project initiated by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and supported by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa by allocating a million-square-meter plot in the southern governorate for the project.

On the international front, in 2020, Bahrain prioritized enhancing international cooperation to support efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic globally. The Kingdom set a distinguished example through its diverse efforts to contain and prevent the spread of the virus, safeguarding the health and safety of citizens and residents. This included forming a national team to develop and implement a comprehensive national strategy to contain and prevent virus spread, enhancing diagnostic, monitoring, and surveillance mechanisms, securing entry points, early preparedness, and implementing precautionary measures in line with World Health Organization recommendations. These efforts positioned Bahrain to achieve the top global ranking in the Nikkei Index for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The year 2021, witnessed the opening of the , which is a medical landmark and an achievement in the medical field that adds to the successive achievements of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the prosperous era of His Majesty the King, in addition to the opening of the World Health Organization office in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a qualitative initiative that contributed to supporting the kingdom's efforts to continue developing the provided health services and deepen paths of cooperation and joint coordination, highlighting Bahraini achievements in various fields.

Thanks to the continued support of His Majesty the King for everything that contributes to the development of the medical sector and its legislation, the number of licensed health facilities in the kingdom providing healthcare has risen to 940 facilities, including 34 government and private hospitals, after there were only 9 hospitals until 1999, and 27 health centers, 9 of which operate around the clock. The sector includes 20,000 licensed professionals. This development and attention to the health sector have been reflected in the elimination of measles and rubella, the absence of cases of polio, diphtheria, and tetanus in the Kingdom of Bahrain for over two decades.

Additionally, the sector has seen the provision of specialized treatment services through specialized centers such as the Bahrain Cancer Center at King Hamad University Hospital, the Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Specialized Heart Center, the Bahrain National Multiple Sclerosis Center, and the Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa Center for Kidney Diseases, alongside the launch of the National Genome Program and the international and national accreditation of national health institutions in the kingdom.