Prime Minister of Bahrain deputises deputy premier to attend SMC's diamond jubilee celebration

Manama, Dec. 26 (BNA): On behalf of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Deputy Premier, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, attended here today the celebration organised by the Health Ministry marking the 60th anniversary of the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). SMC’s diamond jubilee festivity coincides with Bahrain's national celebrations on 16 and 17 December marking the anniversary of the establishment of the modern state of Bahrain as an Arab and Muslim country in 1783 by its founder Ahmed Al-Fateh, the 47th Anniversary of its accession to the UN as a full member and the 19th Anniversary of HM the King’s Accession to the Throne. Deputy Premier, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla expressed deep pride in the great importance attached by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the government, led by HRH the Prime Minister, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to ensuring distinguished health care to the citizens and residents. He also extended sincere thanks and gratitude to HRH Premier for deputising him to attend the celebration on his behalf, which, he said, reflects the Prime Minister’s constant interest in supporting the health sector and improving the quality of health services delivered to all, which re-affirms Bahrain’s commitment to Sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly the third which aims to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages". He underlined the government’s keenness to include plans to deliver sustainable health services in the human development and social services themes of all its work plans. He pointed out that SMC was among the oldest government-funded health facilities in the region, noting that it started operation in 1958 and was officially opened by the late HH Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the then Ruler of Bahrain, a year later. He added that SMC’s Diamond Jubilee celebration follows HM the King’s ratification and issuance of Law 23/2018 on Health Insurance, noting that the Health Insurance system will be implemented next year, in the midst of close follow-up of the Supreme Council for Health, chaired by Lieutenant-General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. The deputy premier extended sincere thanks to all those who contributed to enhancing medical services in the kingdom. He expressed pride in the kingdom’s national health competencies and medical staff, thanks to whose dedicated efforts, he said, Bahrain has managed to reach high positions in global health indicators. Health Minister, Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh delivered a statement in which she extended to sincerest thanks and gratitude to HRH the Prime Minister, on behalf of all the Ministry’s affiliates, for patronising the festivity, valuing highly the Premier’s interest in enhancing health services in the kingdom. She stressed that HRH Premier’s inauguration of the third phase of SMC in 1997 represented a quantum leap in SMC’s services. She added that SMC, the BDF Hospital, the King Hamad University Hospital and the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Cardiac Centre are the solid foundation of the kingdom’s health sector, as they provide integrated services that cover the health needs of the citizens and residents. Then, the deputy premier presented commemorative gifts to individuals and entities for their contributions to developing health services in the kingdom, including the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Batelco, the Saudi Fund for Development, the Kuwait Fund For Arab Economic Development, the National Bank of Bahrain, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, Yousuf Khalil Al-Moayyed, Ali Hussain Yateem Group, Ibrahim Khalil Kanoo Company, the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo and Safia Kanoo.