Ministry of Health Background
The Ministry of Health is an integral part of the healthcare system in the Kingdom of Bahrain and is considered a key component of the Supreme Council of Health. The Ministry actively participates in all the duties and responsibilities of the Council, as well as in decisions and policies related to health financing. It serves as the executive body of the Supreme Council of Health in areas such as quality, planning, and training, in alignment with the Bahrain Vision 2030.
In line with the vision of the new healthcare system and the implementation of health insurance, the role of the Ministry of Health has shifted from being a provider of curative health services to that of a regulator, monitor, and evaluator of health services (health system governance). This executive role is carried out in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Health, its specialized committees, and the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA).
The new role of the Ministry of Health also focuses on providing and organizing public health services, health promotion, and awareness and education programs to combat non-communicable chronic diseases and communicable infectious diseases. The responsibility of providing preventive health and environmental services and epidemic control lies with the Public Health Directorate. It also plays a key role in setting health standards and regulations and monitoring their implementation. In addition, the Ministry provides various services, including occupational health services, the control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, pest and rodent control, and efforts to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases in Bahraini society.
The Health Promotion Directorate aims to improve the health of individuals and the community by encouraging the adoption of healthy lifestyles and establishing an environment that promotes healthy practices. This contributes to enhancing the overall health of the population in the Kingdom of Bahrain and reducing the spread of non-communicable chronic diseases and their associated risk factors. It also seeks to raise health awareness among citizens and residents, promote self-responsibility regarding health, and build community partnerships with governmental, civil, and private sectors to promote health across Bahrain by creating a supportive and health-enhancing environment in all settings.
The future priorities of the Ministry of Health, in effective cooperation and partnership with relevant stakeholders, aim to implement and follow up on the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will be achieved by developing a set of qualitative quality guidelines and strategic reports, providing health information, strengthening scientific research to study communicable and non-communicable diseases, and consolidating and enhancing international relations, as well as developing cooperation and bilateral coordination in the health field at both regional and international levels.
