Supreme Council for Health, World Bank sign agreement

Manama, Dec. 3 (BNA): Supreme Council for Health (SCH) and World Bank (WB) today signed a cooperation agreement on the implementation of the National Health Insurance Programme, which is one of the strategic projects aimed at developing the quality of the Kingdom's health services. The signing ceremony was attended by SCH President Lieutenant General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Health Minister Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh and Representatives of the WB, headed by Country Director of GCC Countries at The World Bank Dr. Nadir Mohammed. SCH president said that the health insurance programme enjoys unlimited support by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister and expressed thanks to Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa for his constant support for the project. He said that this agreement aims at starting the preparations of implementing the National Health Insurance Project's application and the WB will play the strategic partner's role during the preparations. Shaikh Mohammed affirmed that this project will play key role in upgrading the health services' quality and enabling citizens and residents of choosing health services' providers. He expressed thanks to the finance minister for supporting SCH's projects in general, and the health insurance project in particular, health minister for her encouragement, Ministry of Health Undersecretary Dr. Aysha Mubark Buaneq and those in charge of the health sector and other sectors for their cooperation. Dr. Mohammed expressed his delight for the joint cooperation with the Kingdom of Bahrain and expressed thanks to SCH, ministry of health and ministry of finance. He said that WB will play an advisory work during the implementation of the project and lauded the role played by the Bahrain team in charge of the project.