The Bahrain Insurance Association (BIA) is organising a two-day compulsory medical insurance workshop next month.

It will be held under the patronage of Health Minister Dr Faisal Bin Yaqoob Al Hamar on October 12 and 13 at the Movenpick Hotel.

The workshop, which is targeting about 150 decision-makers, researchers, and executives from Bahrain and the GCC insurance sector, and public health sector, will provide a platform for the discussion of many important health care sector topics and development opportunities in the kingdom.

It will also compare the experience of mandatory health insurance among the Arab Gulf states; representing a diversity of views on the matter including the Ministry of Health, Central Bank of Bahrain, Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Commerce, Economic Development Board, private hospitals and insurance companies.

“Everyone has the right to affordable healthcare and shaping a comprehensive health insurance policy is necessary for the sustainability of the local population,' said Younis Jamal, Director – Life, Medical, BIA.

He also added that the government was spending about BD20 million to cover the cost of the expats' expenses in the healthcare section, which represent 5.22 per cent of the government total expenses for the healthcare sector in 2007.

“The workshop will also focus on the finalization and submission of a proposal for a compulsory health insurance system in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in addition to determining a time plan for the application of the compulsory health insurance system,” he concluded.-TradeArabia News Service