Latest news with #BD688
Gulf Insider
31-03-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain: Mandatory Insurance For Expats And Visitors
Bahrain is set to roll out mandatory health insurance for expatriates and foreign visitors as part of an ambitious BD688 million plan to transform its public healthcare system. The proposal, outlined in the 2025-2026 draft budget, will require approximately 686,000 expats and their dependents, along with over 1.6 million annual visitors, to obtain health insurance. The move aims to relieve pressure on public hospitals, reduce government spending on emergency medical care, and ensure equitable access to healthcare services. Under the plan, visitors will pay an additional visa fee, while the existing basic healthcare fee system for expatriate residents will be scrapped. Dependents, previously excluded from state healthcare coverage, will now be insured. Citizens of other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will be exempt from the new regulations. To ease burden The government currently covers emergency medical expenses for visitors, a practice it deems financially unsustainable. By shifting to a mandatory insurance model, officials expect to ease the burden on the public healthcare sector. New health centres The BD688 million investment represents a 17% increase from the previous two-year budget. Funds will be allocated to build new health centres, expand existing facilities, and upgrade hospital departments. Additionally, the government plans to establish a genome research centre and a national biobank to support medical advancements. National organ transplant programme In Muharraq, a new specialised health facility is set to be constructed, while the national organ transplant programme will be expanded. The government will also continue its transition to a self-management model within the broader health insurance framework. Six state-run hospitals Bahrain's public healthcare network includes six state-run hospitals, notably the Salmaniya Medical Complex and five specialised facilities, which collectively handled around 1.2 million visits in 2023. Citizens accounted for 84% of those visits, while expatriates represented 15% and GCC nationals 1%. The country also operates 27 health centres, including nine that provide round-the-clock services.
Daily Tribune
29-03-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Mandatory insurance for expats and visitors
Bahrain is set to roll out mandatory health insurance for expatriates and foreign visitors as part of an ambitious BD688 million plan to transform its public healthcare system. The proposal, outlined in the 2025-2026 draft budget, will require approximately 686,000 expats and their dependents, along with over 1.6 million annual visitors, to obtain health insurance. The move aims to relieve pressure on public hospitals, reduce government spending on emergency medical care, and ensure equitable access to healthcare services. Under the plan, visitors will pay an additional visa fee, while the existing basic healthcare fee system for expatriate residents will be scrapped. Dependents, previously excluded from state healthcare coverage, will now be insured. Citizens of other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will be exempt from the new regulations. To ease burden The government currently covers emergency medical expenses for visitors, a practice it deems financially unsustainable. By shifting to a mandatory insurance model, officials expect to ease the burden on the public healthcare sector. New health centres The BD688 million investment represents a 17% increase from the previous two-year budget. Funds will be allocated to build new health centres, expand existing facilities, and upgrade hospital departments. Additionally, the government plans to establish a genome research centre and a national biobank to support medical advancements. National organ transplant programme In Muharraq, a new specialised health facility is set to be constructed, while the national organ transplant programme will be expanded. The government will also continue its transition to a self-management model within the broader health insurance framework. Six state-run hospitals Bahrain's public healthcare network includes six state-run hospitals, notably the Salmaniya Medical Complex and five specialised facilities, which collectively handled around 1.2 million visits in 2023. Citizens accounted for 84% of those visits, while expatriates represented 15% and GCC nationals 1%. The country also operates 27 health centres, including nine that provide round-the-clock services. Last year, these centres recorded approximately 5.5 million visits, with citizens making up 82% of patients, expatriates 18%, and GCC nationals less than
Gulf Insider
24-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain Budget 2025: VAT Remains, Pensions & Housing Increase
The VAT rate will remain unchanged under Bahrain's draft state budget for 2025 and 2026, which also includes an annual increase to retirees' living allowance, employment and training opportunities for 50,000 Bahrainis each year, and a record BD800 million earmarked for housing. These were among eight measures agreed during a joint meeting between ministers and lawmakers Saturday as both sides reviewed the draft budget. The living allowance for pensioners, introduced in the last budget, will be maintained and increased. This was one of the first measures confirmed during the meeting. On jobs, the government said it aims to recruit 25,000 Bahrainis each year, including 8,000 new graduates. Tamkeen will oversee training and funding programmes for an additional 50,000 Bahrainis annually. The BD800 million housing allocation was described as the largest yet, with efforts focused on reducing waiting lists and accelerating access to homes through collaboration with private developers. BD688 million has also been allocated to the health sector. Other plans include building new schools, refurbishing existing ones, updating curricula, and hiring more Bahraini teachers. At least five per cent will be cut from government operating costs, and low-income Bahrainis will receive cash support if subsidised goods become more expensive during the budget period. Several revenue-raising measures were also reviewed. These include a levy on company profits above a certain threshold, new taxes on energy drinks, sweetened soft drinks, and tobacco, as well as a carbon emissions tax for companies. Talks were led by Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam, Shura Council Chairman Ali Al Saleh, and Finance Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. The meeting followed several earlier rounds held between October and March. Discussions also covered spending in other areas such as education, public works, social welfare, and utilities. The minister said the proposals aim to balance long-term investment with daily needs while easing pressure on public finances. Also Read: Higher Excise Taxes On Tobacco, Soft Drinks, And Energy Drinks In New Budget
Daily Tribune
23-03-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
VAT to Stay, Pensions and Housing to Rise in 2025–2026 Budget
The VAT rate will remain unchanged under Bahrain's draft state budget for 2025 and 2026, which also includes an annual increase to retirees' living allowance, employment and training opportunities for 50,000 Bahrainis each year, and a record BD800 million earmarked for housing. These were among eight measures agreed during a joint meeting between ministers and lawmakers Saturday as both sides reviewed the draft budget. The living allowance for pensioners, introduced in the last budget, will be maintained and increased. This was one of the first measures confirmed during the meeting. On jobs, the government said it aims to recruit 25,000 Bahrainis each year, including 8,000 new graduates. Tamkeen will oversee training and funding programmes for an additional 50,000 Bahrainis annually. The BD800 million housing allocation was described as the largest yet, with efforts focused on reducing waiting lists and accelerating access to homes through collaboration with private developers. BD688 million has also been allocated to the health sector. Other plans include building new schools, refurbishing existing ones, updating curricula, and hiring more Bahraini teachers. At least five per cent will be cut from government operating costs, and low-income Bahrainis will receive cash support if subsidised goods become more expensive during the budget period. Several revenue-raising measures were also reviewed. These include a levy on company profits above a certain threshold, new taxes on energy drinks, sweetened soft drinks, and tobacco, as well as a carbon emissions tax for companies. Talks were led by Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam, Shura Council Chairman Ali Al Saleh, and Finance Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. The meeting followed several earlier rounds held between October and March. Discussions also covered spending in other areas such as education, public works, social welfare, and utilities. The minister said the proposals aim to balance long-term investment with daily needs while easing pressure on public finances.
