Lower House approves Higher Health Council bill

AMMAN — The Lower House on Tuesday approved draft amendments to the Higher Health Council (HHC) law.

According to the new bill, the HHC will draw up general policies and strategies to develop the health sector in the Kingdom. 

The HHC will also, in collaboration with ministries, regulate the number of students studying medicine abroad according to supply and demand.

During the legislative session, a number of MPs questioned the need for such a council, arguing that the HHC’s objectives and tasks are “very similar” to the functions of the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Health.

In response, Minister of Health Mahmoud Sheyyab stated that “the HHC forms a comprehensive coordination platform for all sectors of healthcare. Each sector has specific requirements and the HHC ensures the coordination to meet all needs”.

Chair of the Lower House Health Committee Deputy Ibrahim Bani Hani (Irbid, 1st District) said “there is an existing partnership between Jordanian and international health institutes.”

“We have to specify the number of medical cadres needed. The HHC will present recommendations on the number of medical students needed to study locally and abroad to meet the demand of the Jordanian health sector,” Bani Hani added.

Deputy Khamis Atiyeh (Amman, 3rd District) stressed the need to represent civil society organisations involved in the health sector in the HHC.

Under the bill, the council will be chaired by the health minister and will also include the ministers of planning, higher education, labour and social development, as well as leaders of professional associations concerned with the health sector. 

Lawmakers voted in favour of a suggestion to have the Health Alliance for Patient Protection represented at the HHC.