Bahrain

Bahrain’s National Health Plan (2016–2025) aims to modernize the healthcare system, ensuring financial sustainability, quality improvement, and expanded service accessibility. The plan is aligned with Bahrain Vision 2030 and focuses on integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare services while strengthening digital health and universal health coverage. Key reforms include the introduction of a National Health Insurance System (Sehati), restructuring the Ministry of Health to focus on governance rather than service provision, and expanding private sector participation. The plan promotes health service integration, workforce capacity building, and digital transformation, ensuring efficiency and patient-centered care. However, challenges persist, particularly in health financing, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and demographic shifts leading to increased healthcare demands. The strategy emphasizes enhancing health service delivery, raising quality and safety standards, optimizing financial resources, and improving governance structures. Efforts to expand preventive healthcare, integrate mental health services, and enhance emergency preparedness are central to achieving long-term sustainability. Despite advancements in digital health, insurance implementation, and private sector collaboration, financial pressures and an increasing elderly population pose risks to future health service stability. While the plan provides a strong framework for health sector transformation, its success depends on effective implementation, long-term investment in human resources, and efficient coordination between public and private sectors​.