ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Manaudou sets second world record Sport | 28 Sunday 7 December 2014 • 15 Safar 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6272 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 PM visits Shafallah Center Britain to Patients complain open new military base of needless tests in Bahrain LONDON: Britain is to Private clinics accused of misusing health insurance open a new military base in Bahrain, both countries BY FAZEENA SALEEM health insurance is a grace but it by an Indian expatriate, a doctor announced, its first perma- can also be a curse because it is in a popular polyclinic advised a nent base in the Middle East DOHA: There are increasing exploited by some doctors at pri- patient to go for an X-ray for a since it formally withdrew complaints about some private vate clinics. They are least both- throat infection. He said prescrib- from the region in 1971. doctors and clinics in Qatar ered about the patients and only ing tests was a pastime for this The new base is part of a carrying out allegedly unnec- want to help their employers get doctor and he was known for that. deal to increase cooperation essary medical tests on their more income.” “While prescribing medicines, in tackling security threats patients. This practice seems to A woman doctor prescribed the doctor said casually, get an in the Middle East, ministers have become widespread with a three tests, including a CT scan, X-ray also. I couldn’t understand said on Friday. growing number of companies for his wife for a minor gynaeco- why an X-ray was needed for a The agreement was reached providing health insurance to logical problem. He said the tests simple throat infection and I didn’t at the annual Manama their employees. were prescribed without examin- go for it,” he said. Dialogue regional security Many patients told this news- ing the patient. After getting the Another regular visitor to the summit in Bahrain. paper that they were shocked to reports, the doctor prescribed a same doctor said, “I have a cough It means Britain will have see doctors prescribing elaborate medicine, again without seeing the and was asked for a Total Blood a place to plan and to store tests even for common illnesses patient. Count test and the result was equipment and will be able to such as a sore throat or seasonal When a second opinion was negative. The bill for medicine and add to the four mine-hunter flu. Although the cost is covered by sought, another doctor advised the tests came to around QR1,000. warships based in Mina health insurance, such tests often against taking the medicine, saying If I didn’t have health insurance Salman Port, where Britain scare patients and subject them to that there was nothing abnormal I wouldn’t have spent such a big currently uses US facilities. psychological pressure. with the patient. The prescribed amount for a cough.” It will cost £15m to build. The doctors prescribe unwanted tablet was meant to regulate the He said some doctors at private “This new base is a perma- tests particularly when the patient menstrual cycle. clinics prescribe additional tests nent expansion of the Royal has health insurance, knowing “We went back to the doctor we only after confirming that the Navy’s footprint and will ena- that he/she would not refuse. consulted first and asked her why patient has health insurance. ble Britain to send more and Most patients do not object, not that tablet was prescribed. She “They always tell us to do the larger ships to reinforce sta- only because they don’t have to pay had no proper answer, but after test just to make sure that every- bility in the Gulf,” said defence the cost but also due to the fear a while she said that my wife had thing is fine. The doctor would see secretary Michael Fallon. that they could be suffering from symptoms of some cancer. But two the report after many days, which The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser “We will now be based again a serious ailment. other gynaecology specialists said means there is no sign of a serious bin Khalifa Al Thani visited Shafallah Center for Children with Special in the Gulf for the long term.” Sharing one such experience, that the medical reports showed illness,” he added. Needs yesterday to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Britain withdrew from an employee of an oil and gas only minor problems.” THE PENINSULA Disabilities. The Premier examined the services the Center offers, and bases in the Gulf in 1971 as Continued on page 7 company told this daily, “Having In another incident, reported said the state was keen to enhance the role of people with special needs part of its plan to pull out from “East of Suez”. in society. Nicholas Houghton, head of the British armed forces, told BBC radio: “It’s the strategic importance of this. Rather than just being seen as a Expats will be a problem in future, GCC forum told temporary deployment to an area for a specific operational DOHA: The dilemma faced H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad belonging were left divided Latest data suggest that there Replying to another question purpose, this is more symbolic by Shia populations in GCC Al Thani. The opening cere- between Tehran and the GCC are 16 million foreign workers in as to why GCC countries do not of the fact that Britain does states and the large presence mony was attended by the Prime states. The Shia identity of the the GCC states and they speak recruit enough Arab workers, enjoy interests in the stability of foreign workers in these Minister and Interior Minister, H GCC citizens who belong to this some 70 languages, said Fakhro. Fakhro said companies in the of this region.” countries threatening local E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin sect is not acknowledged, he said. Aisha Ettaib, speaking about region looked for cheap labour to Bahrain’s Foreign Minister social values and identity were Khalifa Al Thani. This policy proved damaging as the foreign workforce in the GCC, maximise profits, so while hiring Khalid Al Khalifa said the among the issues discussed at a One of the speakers, Dr Ashraf it made Iran more important in said they were needed after the workers they didn’t care if they deal “reaffirms our joint regional forum that opened here Osman, a university professor the eyes of the GCC Shias. early oil boom but had become a were Arabs or non-Arabs. determination to maintain yesterday. from Sudan, said several GCC “There is, thus, the need for problem now for the GCC econo- According to Fakhro, the GCC regional security and stabil- Some 70 researchers are among states had felt threatened by the political reform,” he said. mies and societies since over the governments also do not encour- ity in the face of challenging the scholars, academics and poli- 1979 Iranian Revolution. Osman said Shias in the GCC years they had seeped deep into age recruitment of Arab workers circumstances”. ticians presenting papers at the So, to resist the Iranian model states must be re-assimilated as the roots of the system. as they fear these workers would “Bahrain looks forward to three-day conference being held of Islamic identity, a Saudi Arabian a part of the GCC nation states. This had prompted GCC states bring their local political prob- the early implementation of at the Ritz-Carlton. identity was created. “This put the They must be brought back into to develop new policies, restrict lems along with them. today’s arrangement, and to The event is titled ‘The GCC Shia natives of GCC states in a the social mainstream of the GCC. the number of foreign workers Expatriate workers in the continuing to work with the Countries: Politics and Economics dilemma since the latter described On the issue of foreign work- and integrate more locals into region will become a problem in UK and other partners to in Light of the Regional and themselves as Sunni states.” ers, Ali Fakhro, a former Bahraini their job markets, said Ettaib. future as they would threaten the address threats to regional International Shifts and Changes.’ This meant that the Shias of the minister, said the situation was However, to a question if local cultures and identity amid security,” Khalid said. It is being organised by the Doha- GCC had to be opposed to the Shia alarming as in 1975 their ratio Arabs such as Palestinians liv- mounting international pressure Britain retains two sover- based Arab Centre for Research state of Iran, said Osman. “So they to the local populations was just ing in the GCC region for a long to give them nationality, warned eign bases on Cyprus in the and Policy Studies. (the GCC-based Shias) felt torn 29 percent, but 33 years hence, time should be given citizenship, Fakhro. Mediterranean. The conference was inau- between Iran and the GCC states.” by 2008, the ratio had more than Fakhro said there were no such THE PENINSULA AFP gurated by the Deputy Emir, Their feelings and sense of doubled to 70 percent. plans. Continued on page 7 Cry for justice Flag to be carved US, South African hostages out of dune DOHA: A group of Qatari youth killed in Yemen rescue bid is making a huge Qatari flag SANA’A/ADEN: A US journal- secure Korkie’s release, said it had from sand to mark the country’s ist and a South African teacher negotiated for the teacher to be National Day.