A private hospital in Bahrain is reportedly planning to sell off land to raise the money it needs to pay staff.

International Hospital of Bahrain (IHB) medical director Dr Abdul Shaheed Naseeb blamed an 80 per cent drop in business over the past year for cash flow problems at the health facility, which opened in 1978, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The GDN reported earlier this month that 14 nurses had quit their jobs at IHB after allegedly going more than three months without pay.

"I am sure that management will have a solution this week or latest by mid-April and will settle all payment backlogs, including staff and suppliers," Dr Naseeb told the GDN.

"Many staff including doctors, nurses and others have resigned and I can't hide this fact, but I can assure from the management's side that everything will be settled as soon as the land is sold.

"I don't know which land, as I am not the owner, but this is what has been communicated."

He said the hospital had witnessed a significant drop in patients, which had affected the amount of money coming in.

"If patients reduce, the economy of the hospital can be affected and, unfortunately, our patient number has reduced from 500 per day to 100 since last year," said Dr Naseeb.

As a result, doctors have allegedly not been paid since September, while nurses and other categories of staff have allegedly not been paid since October.

In addition to the 14 nurses who resigned this month, 23 doctors and other employees quit as a result of alleged non-payment last September.

Dr Naseeb said the hospital was now reviewing reasons for the drop in patients, one of which allegedly involved insurance companies not sanctioning treatment at the facility for those with medical insurance.

"The hospital is going through some financial issues with some problems from insurance companies, who are not sending patients to us," he said.

He added that meetings would now be sought with health insurance providers, but added other factors could also be involved.

"It could be accessibility, the market or the (political) crisis, we do not know," he said.

"We agree that it is not the mistake of the staff, who need to get their monthly pay.

"We understand this and all we need is for them to co-operate with us until (owner) Dr Faysal Zeerah returns to Bahrain to settle their payments."

Meanwhile, he denied suggestions that the hospital could be on the verge of closing, but admitted that hospital staff were not the only ones awaiting payment.

"Lack of good revenue will reflect in every payment, including government payments like insurance (GOSI), the Labour Market Regulatory Authority and even electricity bills," he said. "Like every other private business, we are facing difficulties." - TradeArabia News Service