Amman, July 17 (Petra) – The Irada parliamentary bloc on Thursday held a meeting, chaired by MP Khamis Attia, to discuss ways to advance the health sector and improve the quality of services delivered to citizens. Second Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, Ahmed Humaisat, and Minister of Health, Firas Hawari, attended the meeting.

Attia underlined the importance of maintaining constructive cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities to serve the public interest and enhance healthcare services. He said the meeting aimed to directly convey citizens’ concerns to the relevant authorities.

He emphasized the significance of direct dialogue with the Minister of Health to address sector challenges, particularly the shortage of pediatricians and the need for medical equipment in underserved areas.

Participating lawmakers highlighted a range of issues impacting citizens’ health. They also called for strengthening the role of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration in regulating the pharmaceutical market and preventing monopolistic practices. Additionally, they discussed mechanisms for drug pricing.

In response, Hawari stated that the Ministry has adopted technical solutions to address shortages in certain specialties, including the implementation of remote radiology services. He noted that Prince Hamzah Hospital currently reads over 45 percent of radiology images sent from five hospitals in Ajloun, Madaba, Jerash, Ma’an, and Tafilah, helping boost efficiency and reduce pressure.

He added that the expansion of high-quality services, such as open-heart surgery (including pediatric cases), cochlear implants, vascular procedures, neurosurgery, and oncology, has significantly increased patient demand, necessitating enhanced human resources and infrastructure support.

Hawari also highlighted growing international confidence in Jordan’s pharmaceutical industry, as global companies have started manufacturing their products using Jordanian production lines.

He cited the example of a local company, “X,” which produces several international medicines. This has helped reduce production costs and improve access to affordable, high-quality drugs. For instance, the price of a “steam” medication dropped from JD25 to JD15 following its local production, easing the financial burden on citizens and contributing to the Kingdom’s pharmaceutical security.

//Petra// AJ
17/07/2025 14:51:51