Monday, the Parliamentary Health and Environment Committee discussed, during a meeting headed by MP Ahmed Al-Sarahneh, the issues of employee incentives at the Ministry of Health, and health insurance.

Al-Sarahneh said, in the presence of the Minister of Health, Feras Al-Hawari, and Director of Health Insurance, Hala Khreisat, that "the efforts of the Ministry of Health employees, including doctors, nurses and technicians, deserve all the support from us," especially in light of the pandemic, especially seeing as health sector employees are the first line of defense in facing COVID-19.

Sarahneh emphasized the need to provide comprehensive health insurance for all citizens, to improve and develop health services for them.

Additionally, members of the committee stressed the need to increase the financial incentives provided to medical personnel, given the tremendous efforts and burdens placed on the health sector these days.

In turn, Hawari indicated that the issue of incentives, or lack thereof, is dependent on the amount of medical personnel entered into the incentive system, noting that 3,000 new cadres have entered into this system, which reduced the amount spent on incentives.

Khreisat explained that comprehensive health insurance is a priority of the government, pointing to the permanent and gradual expansion of health insurance to become comprehensive for all.

Eventually, the expansion will also include those under the age of six, those over the age of 60, all those who hold a National Aid Fund card, and all cancer patients, regardless if they can afford it or not.

She added that a joint committee was formed from the Ministry of Health, Health Insurance and the Ministry of Finance, to draft a comprehensive health insurance plan.