Jordan- Most referrals to non-public hospitals not justified 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) The majority of public health sector referrals to non-public hospitals are "not reasonable" as public hospitals and their staff are capable of conducting advanced medical procedures, Minister of Health Abdul Latif Wreikat said on Sunday.

He explained that the ministry recently conducted an evaluation of cases in which patients were referred to private, university, or military hospitals for medical procedures and found that "the majority of these referrals were not justified".

In a statement sent to The Jordan Times yesterday, Wreikat noted that the health ministry annual budget has allocations for developing its facilities and medical staff to provide patients with high-quality services.

He also noted that he submitted a proposal to the Prime Ministry to exclude the ministry's staff from the Civil Service Bureau regulations when sending them for training abroad.

In a meeting with public hospital directors yesterday, Wreikat warned public sector doctors against working "double jobs", which he said would over-extend them.

In order to ensure that public sector doctors do not seek additional work in other health sectors, the minister said their salaries will be improved to be similar to those working in other health sectors.

In addition, Wreikat said, the ministry will send undercover investigators to public hospitals and health centres to evaluate the quality of services they provide.

The minister also reiterated that Syrians who flee to Jordan and are registered as refugees will receive medical care free of charge in the ministry's hospitals.