National Health Regulatory Authority

The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), pronounced locally as nahra, is an independent regulatory body established in 2010, under Law No. 38 of 2009, of the Kingdom of Bahrain.[1]

National Health Regulatory Authority

NHRA office in Al Khair Towers, Sanabis, Bahrain
Authority overview
Formed2010 (11 years ago)
TypeGovernmental Authority
HeadquartersSanabis, Manama
Authority executive
  • Mariam Adhbi Al-Jalahma, CEO
Parent AuthorityMinistry of Health
Websitewww.nhra.bh

Bahrain's hospitals, medical centres, pharmacies, physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, medical technicians and allied healthcare institutions and healthcare professionals must be registered with, and licensed, by NHRA.

Mission, Vision and Goals

According to the NHRA's website, its mission is "to regulate the provision of healthcare in Bahrain and ensure appropriateness, continuity, efficiency and safety in delivering health services, both in the governmental and private sector. It will be based on the best scientific evidence and healthcare best practices, in accordance to international standards".[1]

As per the authority's statements NHRA's Vision is "to ensure safe and high quality in the delivery of healthcare in the kingdom".[1]

Its strategic goals include the regulation and accountability of all healthcare facilities so that they meet the required standards for licensing, the continuous monitoring of the quality of the provision of health services - to ensure compliance with evidence-based practices and accreditation standards - and the preservation and protection of patients' health rights, as well as the rights and the safety of all people who use the health care facilities.

NHRA's responsibilities listed on its official website are: (1) Issue regulations and executive decisions concerning the organization of professions and health services (2) Grant and renew licences for health professionals and healthcare facilities (3) Investigate patients complaints (3) Determine the terms and conditions for the use of health care informatics (4) Monitor, evaluate and accredit healthcare facilities (5) Undertake disciplinary hearings of licensees regarding professional misconduct (6) Approving clinical trials (7) Registration and licensing of medical devices (8) Setting the rules for drug registration and pricing, and ensure the quality of medicines and pharmaceuticals.[2]

Recent Activities

The CEO Dr Mariam Al Jalahma mentioned in her interview to the Oxford Business Group that NHRA ensures that are no malpractices in the import of medical equipment and essential drugs. According to her, NHRA also verifies the authenticity of degrees and certificates of healthcare professionals like nurses, doctors and pharmacists, before licencing them. to work in Bahrain.[3]

In December 2020, NHRA announced it has officially approved the registration of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine after the submission of all related documentation by G42 Healthcare, the company's exclusive distributor in the Middle East and North Africa.[4] And with NHRA's approval of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bahrain became the second country in the world to grant an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for the vaccine.[5]

On 25 January 2021, the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) announced that it approved the emergency use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under the name ‘Covishield’.[6][7]

The Chief Executive Officer of NHRA, Dr. Mariam Adhbi Al-Jalahma, is listed among the 100 Most Influential Arab Personalities in the field of social responsibility in 2020, by the Regional Network for Social Responsibility.[8][9]The honouring is in recognition of Dr. Al-Jalahma’s key role in promoting the social responsibility culture.[8]

References
  1. "NHRA Overview". NHRA. National Health Regulatory Authority. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  2. "NHRA Mission". NHRA. National Health Regulatory Authority. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  3. "Bahrain-Health Interview with CEO of NHRA". Oxford Business Group. Oxford Business Group. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. "National Health Regulatory Authority approves Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine". Bahrain News Agency. Bahrain News Agency. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  5. "Bahrain second in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine". Bahrain News Agency. Bahrain News Agency. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  6. "Bahrain authorizes the emergency use of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India". Ministry of Information Affairs. Bahrain News Agency. 25 January 2021.
  7. Nagraj, Aarti (27 January 2021). "Bahrain has approved the emergency use of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine". Motivate Media Group. Gulf Business. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  8. "Prestigious honour for NHRA chief". Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej Press and Publishing. Gulf Daily News. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. "NHRA chief among 100 most influential Arab persons in social responsibility 2020". Ministry of Information Affairs. Bahrain News Agency. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
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