King urges enhancing health sector’s services, providing training for its staff

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday stressed the need to enhance the health sector’s level and establish an institutional mechanism for oversight over performance and ensure commitment to professionalism standards.

At a meeting with officials and representatives from the health sector at Al Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah urged providing continuous training for medical cadres, within a plan to enhance performance, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty warned of shortcomings in the medical sector, stressing the importance of learning from past mistakes and to continue providing quality services to the public.

The King paid tribute to the two girls who passed away due to medical malpractice, stressing that this is unacceptable.

His Majesty also reiterated the importance of administrative reform to address shortcomings and counter nepotism.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the government is committed to advancing the health sector to offer quality services and prevent medical malpractice, while ensuring hospitals are staffed with efficient cadres who are regularly assessed.

The King listened to a briefing by Health Minister Feras Al Hawari, who noted that the issues facing the health sector are due to mismanagement rather than lack of financial resources, in addition to a lack of training and a misdistribution of cadres.

The minister said a restructuring of the Ministry of Health concludes early next week, as part of measures to improve the sector’s performance.