Jordan Healthcare 101
Structure of the Healthcare
Healthcare in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is regulated by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in accordance with the Public Health Law No.47 of 2008. The Jordanian Medical Council, the Jordanian Nursing Council, and the High Health Council (HHC) collectively develop and direct the industry.
The kingdom ensures its population has access to basic primary healthcare, which offers preventive and curative health services. The provision of healthcare services is a joint effort of public, private, international, and non-governmental service providers. Healthcare providers include:
Public Sector - Ministry of Health, Royal Medical Services, Jordan University Hospital, King Abdullah University Hospital, Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics
Private Sector - Private Hospitals including the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), Islamic Hospital, Al-Rahbat Al-Wardieh Hospital
International and Charity (Donors) - United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Clinics for Palestine Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Charity Association Clinics
The kingdom is known for its well-developed pharmaceutical industry. It is particularly strong for the region, ranking behind Israel and Turkey, respectively. Jordan also boasts robust medical tourism, which is offered at a significantly lower price compared to nations like the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, or Thailand.
Financing Healthcare
In Jordan, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Royal Medical Services (RMS) are public insurers who cover 90% of the insured population. The Ministry of Health offers free medication for contagious diseases, kidney disease, tuberculosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and addiction.
The healthcare insurance systems or options available in the kingdom include:
Civil Insurance, administered by the Ministry of Health, covers the full cost of healthcare for its low-income civil servants
Military Health Insurance, administered by The Royal Medical Services, covers medical care costs for forces and their families
University Hospitals Insurance
Private Health Insurance
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
Out-of-Pocket Payments made by the uninsured population
Investment Opportunities
Lucrative opportunities to invest in the kingdom’s healthcare space include but not limited to:
Medical Tourism and Cosmetics
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
Hospitalization
Medical Education and Services
Start Ups & Technology
The kingdom has utilized emerging technologies such as Digital Hospital, mHealth (Mobile Health), c-Health (Connected Health), Health 2.0, Data & Analytics, Digital Therapeutics, and Health Information Technology by various startups.
These emerging technologies have ensured healthcare services are available and accessible to everyone easily. Notable startups include:
WebTeb
Tebcan
iDoctor Network
Mind Rockets
MEMeDs
Medicine Box
Altibbi
Challenges
The health sector in Jordan faces challenges towards development. Such challenges include but are not limited to:
Achieving universal health coverage
Non-communicable diseases influenced by lifestyles
Overwhelmed healthcare system as a result of influx of Syrian and Palestinian refugees
Workforce retention, especially nurses who prefer to work in other GCC countries for better pay
Poor advancement of e-health due to lack of regulations and policies supporting health information systems and poor financial resources to champion the initiative
Solutions
The review of the health insurance law and structure will ensure every citizen and resident has access to quality healthcare and universal health coverage.
Free wide screening and testing will ensure diseases are detected early in order to prepare prevention methods and potential cure.
Refugees are now registered with UN agencies UNRWA and UNHCR, which in turn has relieved the burden of the kingdom’s healthcare system.