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AMMAN — Health Minister Firas Hawari on Thursday said that spending on Jordan’s health sector reached JD2.67 billion, accounting for 7.7 per cent of the Kingdom’s GDP.
Speaking at a ceremony to launch the National Health Accounts (2020–2022) and present the findings of a study on government spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawari noted that Jordan's health expenditure surpasses the international average, as well as that of upper-middle-income and Arab countries, where health spending typically stands at around 6 per cent of GDP, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
Hawari said the spending reflects the priorities of Jordan’s health system, with 30 per cent allocated to pharmaceuticals and 40 per cent directed toward primary healthcare services.
The total government expenditure on managing the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022 stood at JD597 million, the minister added.
As part of ongoing reforms, Hawari announced the launch of the Health Financing Reform and Universal Health Coverage Plan (2024–2030). The plan includes establishing a new insurance fund for uninsured members of the Social Security Corporation to gradually expand coverage to the entire population.
"The initial phase will focus on primary and preventive healthcare services, which are most effective in reducing disease burden and healthcare costs."
Also speaking at the event, President of the Jordanian National Centre for Epidemics and Communicable Diseases Adel Bilbeisi presented a detailed overview of Jordan's experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He highlighted the preventive measures, infection and mortality statistics, the five waves of the virus, and vaccination data, including the number of administered doses and other key indicators.