Health syndicates decry ‘governmental negligence’ of sector’s demands

AMMAN — Health syndicates claim the government has been “neglecting” the sector’s demands for legislative reforms of accreditation law of health institutions and other working demands, such as better application of laws to protect medical staff from violence. 

The sector’s representatives consider the governmental and ministerial “negligence” as “critical” and recently announced that they were willing to escalate their protest if their demands were not considered and discussed officially, Jordan Medical Association (JMA) President Ali Obous said. 

Obous expressed the discontent of medical, dental, nurses and pharmacists associations that met last week to discuss issues such as the absence of cooperation with the government to improve healthcare services. 

They claimed it hindered their aim to implement the Royal vision to improve medical sector in Jordan. 

Obous said that the four syndicates met with Prime Minister Hani Mulki regarding the reform of the accreditation of health institutions law that was issued in 2016, and obligates all healthcare institutions to acquire the accreditation within three years of issuance of the law. If accreditation is not acquired, closure of the institution would be the ensuing fate. 

“Vision and application [of the law] contradict as the accreditation is acquired from a private institution, which means that it has become a commercial process and serves private interests,” Obous told The Jordan Times. 

Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC), the official issuers of accreditation for health institutes, is registered as non-governmental institution in Jordan. However, the syndicates voiced their doubt of the HCAC being an NGO as they say it is managed by private sector leaders in the medical field. 

The president of Jordan Pharmaceutical Association Zaid Keylani, said it is “not acting like an NGO” as it demands fees for the accreditation process. 

Ministry of Health’s spokesperson, Hatem Azrui, confirmed the independency of HCAC citing its authenticity away from syndicates’ representatives and said they work according to international standards. 

However, Keylani questioned the ability of one institution to provide accreditation to around 40,000 health institutions in three years. 

Meanwhile, sector’s representatives have denounced the “blurry” instructions of the accreditation process. 

 “HCAC can encourage institutions to obtain the accreditation through giving privileges to those who acquire the certificate rather than just threatening them with closure,” Keylani noted. 

The syndicates’ presidents also outlined “vital issues” that disturb workers in all medical fields. 

He described the law to protect doctors and nurses from violence as “a major problem” as many of them might face suspension due to “false” reports the assaulters would move to court. 

JMA president said 73 cases of violence were recorded against workers in medical institutions since the beginning of 2017. 

The latest incident happened last week in a Jerash hospital, which ensued in a 48-hour sit-in by workers who said similar cases are increasing and government’s action is “weak” to solve the issue, Obous noted. 

“No medical committee examines the assaulter to check the veracity of the medical report, although the law states it as a requirement,” Obous said, adding that “we need real application of the law”. 

Azrui called for a new system of reports to be issued to control medical reports and holds doctors who issue them responsible, which would help in detecting “false” reports. 

Mohammad Hatamleh, the president of Jordan Nurses Association, said that the syndicate on Sunday sent official letters to the government, Senate Council and Parliament regarding the violence issue, urging them for swift action. 

“The general perception about syndicates is that they work against the government but we want to work hand in hand to improve the medical field in Jordan,” Keylani concluded.