The government of Bahrain is calling for a legislative review of the Shura Council’s proposed telemedicine bill. The government has raised concerns about the bill’s effectiveness, clarity, and potential conflicts with existing legal frameworks. The proposed bill aims to establish a legal framework for telemedicine within Bahrain, allowing licensed healthcare institutions to provide remote healthcare services. It also seeks to facilitate access to healthcare for all citizens, promote disease prevention, and establish regulations for telemedicine practice.
The bill consists of 10 articles that define key terms, outline the scope of telemedicine services, and address licensing requirements, including the issuance of temporary licenses for visiting physicians. It also mandates the maintenance of patient data records and specifies penalties for violations. Despite the bill’s objectives, the government argues that they are already being met through existing regulations and policies. The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) is responsible for overseeing and developing healthcare practices in both public and private sectors, ensuring high standards of efficiency, safety, and effectiveness.
The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) is responsible for developing and implementing the national health strategy, including the establishment of a unified information technology system for all healthcare institutions. The government highlights the comprehensive regulations governing private healthcare institutions and the SCH’s decision on the classification of healthcare facilities, which includes specific requirements for telemedicine services, such as technical specifications and data management protocols. As a result, the government believes that a separate law for telemedicine is unnecessary as the existing regulatory framework provides sufficient flexibility to address evolving needs and ensure the achievement of health policy goals.
The government is confident that the current legal framework for private healthcare institutions, along with the proposed law on the practice of healthcare professions, will effectively unify the legal framework for healthcare services and clarify the responsibilities of individuals and institutions. By integrating telemedicine services into the existing regulatory framework, the government believes that it can continue to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare sector while upholding high standards of quality and efficiency. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that Bahrain’s healthcare system remains at the forefront of technological advancements while prioritizing the well-being of its citizens.
