Health Ministry shuts down private hospital

AMMAN — Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab on Wednesday decided to shut down a private hospital in Zarqa after a video emerged showing the body a of child in an “inappropriate freezer”.

The content of the video, which has gone viral, has been verified by authorities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Health Ministry Spokesperson Hatim Azraai said that after watching the video that was circulated on social media networks and other websites, the minister issued directives to immediately investigate the video and visit the hospital.

Azaari added that the minister summoned the Private Hospitals Committee to discuss the video and measures needed to be taken in accordance with the relevant laws.

He noted that after verifying the video’s content, Shyyeab decided to shut down the hospital until it rectifies its status.

The spokesperson stressed the ministry’s keenness to protect the rights of patients at the hospital, noting that it has notified the concerned authorities to take into consideration the needs of patients at the time of closure.

The hospital licensing law and its amendments for 2014 stipulate requirement of special freezers for storing bodies of patients who die at hospitals.

In accordance with the law, the ministry has given hospitals that do not have body freezers a grace period of one year, according to Petra.