Ministers visit Prince Hamza Hospital, check on assault victim Rawan Sami

AMMAN — Interior Minister Salameh Hammad pledged to ensure the effective protection for medical personnel in government hospitals and secure the necessary resources to serve the purpose.

The remarks came during his visit, accompanied by acting health minister Walid Maani, to Prince Hamza Hospital, coinciding with a sit-in in front of the hospital, organised by the Jordanian Medical Association (JMA) to denounce repeated attacks on medical personnel.

On Thursday, a female surgery resident, Rawan Sami, was reportedly attacked while on duty after she told a patient’s relatives that there were no available beds in the hospital’s ICU. She was left with a broken nose and bruises.

During the visit, the two top officials and JMA Chairman Ali Obous checked on the doctor, who was admitted to the hospital after the assault.

Suspects were arrested and will be referred to the judiciary for legal proceedings, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Obous thanked the ministers for their visit, highlighting that the association has drafted a set of proposals to put an end to the phenomenon.

He urged the officials to adopt and implement them, Petra added.

The JMA board will address this issue via all legal channels accessible, Obous asserted.

Meanwhile, participants in the sit-in held banners calling for preventing attacks on medical staff and imposing tougher penalties on perpetrators.