Public and private hospitals in Bahrain have been asked to report all cases of medical complications to the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) within 24 hours.

Violators could see their licences cancelled and withdrawn.

This came as Minister of State for Defence Affairs Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa chaired an emergency meeting of the Supreme Council for Health to discuss cases of medical blunders.

A circular in this regard will be sent to all hospitals and the measure will be implemented with immediate effect, NHRA chief executive officer Dr Baha Fateha told our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.

He said NHRA is the only body legally authorised to examine patients' complaints and decide on whether a medical malpractice has taken place or not.

He said 12 internationally recognised complications must be reported, including wrong diagnosis and complications related to medication, surgeries and blood transfusion. – TradeArabia News Service