Jordan: New Health Agreement
The Health Ministry signed a new health care agreement with the 33 hospitals that had threatened to withdraw from the previous agreement. Renegotiations have been going on since April. The hospitals complained that ministry was not paying them for services they were providing and therefore the hospitals were losing money especially since the cost to operate and the demand for medical services has increased.
Under this new agreement the people going into the hospitals will be asked to pay 20% of their medical fees and the ministry is to pay the remaining amount within 3 months. A clause was also added which allows for the revision of this agreement annually if either side requests it.
Mayra Munguia
