IHB opens as Covid-19 treatment facility
A PRIVATE hospital in Bahrain which was shut down following a financial crisis has been reopened as a treatment facility for Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) patients.
The International Hospital Bahrain (IHB), which stopped operating in June 2018 following years of being at the centre of a massive pay row that started in 2014, is the latest addition to Bahrain’s Covid-19 treatment facilities.
This was announced by the Supreme Council for Health (SCH) yesterday.
The facility, which will be run jointly by the Health Ministry and the BDF Hospital, is part of the government’s preventive measures to deal with any emergency that may arise in the health sector and the need for extra space to provide Covid-19 patients with appropriate care and treatment.
“The International Hospital will be one of the treatment facilities for Covid-19,” an SCH official told the GDN.
“Details with regards to the capacity will be announced later.
“It will be run jointly by the Health Ministry and the BDF Hospital.
“The unit will treat Covid-19 positive patients.
“The facility is yet to receive patients as we are assessing its readiness.”
The private hospital that opened in 1978 faced financial difficulties following the 2011 unrest and is yet to settle pending salaries of its employees including doctors, nurses and technicians.
The National Health Regulatory Authority said in June 2018 that the hospital would be shut down until it met all the necessary requirements, while sources confirmed to the GDN that the medical facility’s licence had been revoked but its commercial registration (CR) remained valid.
Meanwhile, SCH chairman Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa yesterday made an inspection visit to assess the facility, along with members of the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus.
“Bahrain will spare no effort in order to confront and eliminate this virus and will provide all necessary capabilities including qualified human resources and medical facilities to counter this virus and to successfully overcome it,” said Dr Shaikh Mohammed.
Qualified
“The addition of the International Hospital to the network of care units devoted to existing cases comes within the framework of the continuous efforts under the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and the First Deputy Prime Minister, to promote health and safety of all citizens and residents.”
He added that the care unit was constructed in a record period and is equipped with the best equipment of highest standards.
The GDN announced earlier that a similar facility was set up at the BDF Hospital.
The 130-bed facility managed by the Royal Medical Services is on the third floor of the hospital’s multi-storey car park and is dedicated to intensive care and is capable of accommodating beds equipped with respiratory and reanimation equipment.
Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/810838/IHB-opens-as-Covid-19-treatment-facility
