‘Investment in private hospital sector amounts to JD3 billion’

AMMAN — A total of 73 private hospitals comprise 60 per cent of all hospitals in Jordan, Chairman of the Private Hospitals Association Fawzi Hammouri said on Saturday, noting that investment in the private hospital sector amounts to JD3 billion.

Hammouri said the sector employs 35,000 people in related specialties, more than 95 per cent of whom are Jordanians, and 60,000 working in supporting specialties, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He added that 32 hospitals have received certificates from the Health Care Accreditation Council and 10 hospitals have received international accreditation. Reviewing the challenges facing the sector, Hammouri noted that the outstanding Libyan debts to Jordan’s hospitals and accumulated due payments by the public and private insurance companies are top priorities, and called on the government to revise regulations that negatively affect the sector.

He said that increasing sales tax on medical supplies from 4 to 16 per cent and the income tax on private hospitals from 14 to 16 per cent are among regulations that limit the sector’s competitiveness, adding that the increased 22.75 per cent social security subscription fees for workers in the sector are “extremely high” compared to other countries.