Arrangements for Khalifa bin Salman Award, Bahraini Doctors’ Day discussed

 A meeting was held today the Court of HRH the Prime Minister to discuss ways to implement His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa’s directives to celebrate the Bahraini Doctors’ Day on the first Wednesday of November each year, and launch the Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for outstanding Bahraini doctors in the medical and treatment research. 

Shaikh Hossam bin Isa Al Khalifa, Minister of Health, Faiqa Al-Saleh, and Bahrain Medical Society (BMS) President, Dr. Ghada Al-Qasim, took part in the meeting which discussed arrangements for celebrating the Bahrain Doctors’ Day, and the award procedures.  

Shaikh Hossam bin Isa stressed the importance of the initiative of HRH the Prime Minister, which, he said, reflects his visions and support for national cadres, as well as the efforts made by the government, under HRH’s leadership, to achieve sustainable development goals.

He pointed out that HRH Premier had allocated USD 200,000 for the award and the Bahraini Doctors Day celebrations, indicating that the award’s Secretariat-General began to develop the necessary scenarios and the procedures required for handing over the award.

He noted that the basic system of the award had been set and a committee to choose the winners had been formed.

The committee consists of representatives from the Prime Minister’s Court, the Ministry of Health, the President of the Bahrain Medical Society, the President of the Arabian Gulf University, the President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain, a representative of the World Health Organisation, as well as international experts in the field of medical research, to oversee all procedures for granting the award.

Shaikh Hossam went on to emphasise that the culture of honouring is considered an integral part of the developmental thought of HRH the Premier, who has long been known for being keen on various occasions and positions to praise, appreciate and honour the efforts of civil servants across all sectors in the Kingdom, especially the health and medical ones.

The aim is to motivate and encourage them to exert further efforts and work harder in serving the country, as part of the Prime Minister’s continued efforts and far- reaching vision in promoting the pace of construction and development, and upgrading the levels of human progress at all its sectors, in order to preserve the advanced levels of accomplishments internationally, especially in the medical and health field, he said.

The Minister of Health, Professor Faiqa Al-Saleh expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to HRH the Prime Minister for his patronage of the Bahraini Doctors’ Day celebration and the distribution of his award to honor outstanding Bahraini doctors in the medical and treatment research, stressing that all medical staff members of the health sector in the Kingdom appreciate HRH Premier’s initiative, which embodies his enormous support for and appreciation of the medical and health personnel.

She went on to underscore the importance of the celebration and the award in encouraging and motivating medical cadres to exert further efforts and improve the quality of health services provided to both the citizens and residents, expressing her aspiration to implement the aspirations and noble goals reflected in the award.

Dr. Ghada Al Qasim expressed her heartfelt thanks and gratitude to His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, for his constant support to doctors and health and medical teams in the Kingdom, stressing that all workers in the health sector always do feel grateful to HRH Premier for his appreciation and recognition of their efforts and contributions to the country.

BMS President emphasised that this initiative carries noble values that reflect the belief of both the leadership and society in the importance of Bahraini doctors’ role in building and developing the nation.

She stressed that all employees of the health sector are looking forward to celebrating the first edition of the Bahraini Doctors’ Day and the distribution of the Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for outstanding Bahraini doctors in the medical and treatment research. 

She pointed out that this award will have a major impact in terms of enriching the health sector and its contribution to the service of the country.

The meeting reviewed the programme to be followed in celebrating the first edition of the Bahraini Doctors’ Day, to be organised on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, as well as the arrangements to be taken for the selection of winners of the awards , and the jury appointed for this purpose.

The Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for outstanding Bahraini doctors in the medical and treatment research consists of a shield and a certificate bearing the emblem of the award, in addition to a financial reward granted to winners from the public and private sectors.

The award shall be granted in two categories. The first is Innovation and Creative Award in Therapeutic, Clinical and Medical Research. It will be granted to three Bahraini doctors who prepare therapeutic, clinical and medical scientific research and attain distinguished achievements in their medical field characterised by creativity and innovation.

The award is granted to them in order to encourage therapeutic, clinical and medical scientific research and the development of their research capabilities.

To be eligible for this award, the research must have been published in an internationally recognised scientific journal and have not participated in other competitions and awards.

Meanwhile, the second category, “Extended Loyalty and Giving Award”, will be granted to a Bahraini doctor who has worked for a period of no less than 30 years, in recognition and appreciation of their efforts and contributions. 

The candidate should also have been dedicated to the education of high values and human ideals of the medical profession. 

Regarding the first category, the submitted research should contribute to the formulation and implementation of the national health policy and plan by 2025, as well as to advancing the implementation of specific health programmes that further improve the quality of health care for the population.

As for the second category, it will be awarded to Bahraini doctors, whose career has been marked by effort and dedication, and contributed to the education of other doctors.

Any qualified Bahraini doctor can apply for the first category award by submitting the nomination through the institution to which they belong. The institution may nominate a maximum of three candidates for each category of the award, no later than 5 September 2020, by filling in the form designated for this purpose.

Those willing to take part in the award shall fill in the form on the official website of the Ministry of Health, and send the required documents supporting their nomination to the Ministry of Health via: kbs.bdra.reg@health.gov.bh