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.