MP seeks more health specialists

V L Srinivasan
Manama (Bahrain), Feb 28:

Independent MP Abdulhameed Jalal Al Meer representing Constituency Two in Muharraq came up with a pragmatic solution for the problem of overcrowding of patients at Kingdom’s Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
He said specialist doctors should be appointed and the latest equipment should be provided in all health centres across the Kingdom.
To begin with, three specialists for common diseases should be posted in each of the three round-the-clock health centres located in Umm al Hassam, Muharraq and Hamad Town, he said. Once it proves to be successful, it can be extended to four medical centres that are open till midnight every day.
“The decentralisation of specialised medical care will definitely reduce the steady rise in the patient rush in SMC where doctors can then concentrate on people who are in serious conditions,” Mr Al Meer told DT.
He is aware that a significant amount of money would be required to implement his suggestions. For that, he is planning to raise the issue in Parliament either tomorrow or next week. By doing so, SMC can be converted into a referral hospital with health centres serving as base hospitals.
He feels that the suggestion can be considered keeping in view the benefits that would accrue to patients who need not come all the way to SMC.
“It will be like providing quality medicare to people at their doorsteps,” he averred.
On an average, doctors at SMC treat between 850-1,200 patients every day. Even though the bed strength in the complex is 1,070, authorities are forced to reserve a few beds to meet emergency situations, since SMC is the only major hospital in the public sector.
However, during the recent crisis, doctors had a tough time treating dozens of injured brought in at the same time.
SMC officials also welcomed the suggestions made by Mr Al Meer as they believe it would reduce strain on hospital staff.
“There is a need to change people’s mindset and educate them that they can visit health centres in their respective areas for ailments like fever, stomach pain and so on. But still, they repose confidence in us and we cannot turn them away,” a source from SMC told DT.