Medical complaints to Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) have tripled in the last three years, totaling 82 last year, compared with 41 in 2012 and 24 in 2011, said a senior government official.

"All complaints, whether from public or private medical facilities or individuals, are received by NHRA's grievances office, which compiles a report that gets revised by a technical committee of experts," Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi said in a letter to parliament, according to a report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"After looking into the complaints, accused medical staff or doctors are summoned to the licences committee in NHRA's disciplinary council, which decides the administrative punishment for the mistake."

Al Shehabi, who will attend Tuesday's parliament session to discuss the issue with MPs, said serious cases were referred to the Public Prosecution.

"We are working to limit medical mistakes and we are willing to respond to any further queries regarding this important subject," he wrote in response to a question by Independent Bloc president Khamis Al Rumaihi. – TradeArabia News Service