The 50-year-old Muharraq Maternity Hospital (Areef), Bahrain's oldest maternity hospital, must be rebuilt as soon as possible, said MPs, adding that Muharraq residents had no alternative hospital at the moment.

Health Ministry training and planning assistant under-secretary Hassan Jaber said the required technical and medical study had been completed by the ministry.

He said the issue had since been referred to the Works Ministry to prepare the designs.

"We expect the hospital to cost BD8 million ($21.12 million) and we may either have it done through an urgent budget from the Finance Ministry or listed under the national budget for 2013-2014," he said.

Minister of State for Shura Council and Parliament Affairs Abdulaziz Al Fadhel said Muharraq residents would be accommodated through a special maternity ward at the King Hamad University Hospital during reconstruction work.

"The ward will continue working even when the new Areef hospital gets reopened."

However, parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani said it could take up to 10 years before it gets rebuilt. – TradeArabia News Service