Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan, on Thursday held a meeting with the civil and military health funds to discuss the best means to strengthen coordination in a bid to ensure swift first aid to patients and to provide them with hospital beds.

In the wake of the meeting, Minister Hassan censured the fact that many hospitals have been reluctant to receive patients under the pretext that they might be infected with the novel Coronavirus. Consequently, the Minister underlined the need “to act objectively before causing the death of patients with other diseases whilst awaiting the results of PCR tests.”

As for the increasing number of Covid-19 deaths within the last few days, Hassan stressed that hospitals were obligated to assist patients before inquiring about their insuring party, pointing to the necessity of coordination between all sides.

The Minister also reminded that the ratio of medical treatment at the expense of the Ministry of Public Health had increased — due of the economic situation — from 15 to 20 per cent, whilst insurance companies evaded coverage of people with Covid-19.

Source: NNA