Kingdom of Bahrain

Ministry of Health
Office of Licensure and Registration

Legislative Decree No (2) for 1987

With Respect to the Practice of Non Doctors and
Pharmacists As Paramedics
We, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Amir of the State of Bahrain
After full consideration of the Constitution,
Amiri Order No (4) for 1975,
Amiri Order No (3) for 1987,
Legislative Decree No (6) for 1971 on the practice of Human Medicine
and Dentistry,
Legislative Decree No (26) for 1975 on the regulation of pharmaceutics,
pharmaceutical centers and its amendments,
Legislative Decree No (24) for 1977 on the regulation of the profession of
Midwifery,
with the approval of the Cabinet
And upon submission of the Minister of Health,

Hereby decree the following law:

Article (1)

Unless otherwise indicated, the following words and terms shall

have the meanings assigned opposite each:
Ministry:
Ministry of Health
Minister:
Minister of Health

Medical Paramedical Profession:

Occupation or paramedical occupations listed in the schedule annexed to
this law.
Committee:
One of the committees provided for in Article (5) of this law.
License: the License to practice paramedics issued in accordance with the
provisions of this law.
Article (2)
Taking into consideration the Legislative Decree No (6) for 1971 with
respect to the Practice of the Occupation of Human Medicine and
Dentistry, and the Legislative Decree No (26) for 1975 on the Practice of
Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Centers as amended, non-doctors and
pharmacists may not work as paramedics without obtaining a license to
do so according to the provisions of this law.
Article (3)
Qualifications, training, expertise and requirements needed to obtain a
license to practice paramedical professions, as well as the licensee duties
and responsibilities, shall be prescribed by an order from the Minister.
Article (4)
The License Application shall be submitted to the Licensing and
Registration Department at the Ministry accompanied with the following
documents:
1- Original academic certificates obtained by the applicant or an
official document evidencing that these certificates have been
obtained with a certified translation in Arabic or English if these
certificates are issued in another foreign language.
Such
certificates must be authenticated from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the country from which the applicant has obtained the
certificate or document, and from diplomatic missions or
consulates of the State of Bahrain, if any.
2- An authenticated certificate stating pervious experience.
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3- Birth certificate or an official extract thereof or a certificate stating

the age, issued by a competent authority in the respective country.
4- Names of three superiors/supervisors/managers whom the
applicant have worked with in order to obtain from them
information or statements as regards the professional level and
personal details of the applicant.
5- A Certificate proving that no criminal judgments have been passed
against applicant prejudicing his integrity and honour unless he has been
forgiven by competent authorities.
6- A certificate proving the health fitness of the applicant to practice the
medical professions for which the license is issued, from a medical
committee formed by an order from the Minister.
7- A certificate stating the nationality of the applicant or a passport copy
with 4x6 cm photographs.
8- A recommendation certificate from the union/board/medical
association from the respective country.
9- Any other documents or papers prescribed by an order from the
Minister.
Article (5)
A specialized technical committee shall be formed by an order from the
Minister to examine license applications and carry out other powers
stipulated in this law. The formation order shall prescribe work
procedures and regulations of these committees which shall take all
necessary actions to verify the authenticity of the documents submitted by
the applicant, as well as, evaluating the certificates obtained by the
applicant and matching them with required certificates. The committee
shall also take all procedures, as it deems necessary to verify the
competence of the applicant to practice the medical professions for which
the license is needed according to the rules defined by an order from the
Minister.
Article (6)
The Committee shall decide on the licensing requests and shall issue its
resolution within thirty days from the date of submission of the
application.
In case the license application is refused, the decision of the Committee
must be justified and the Medical Licensing Department shall notify the
applicant on the decision of the Committee in a letter registered.
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Article (7)
An applicant whose application was refused may appeal against the
decision to the Undersecretary of the Ministry within thirty days from the
date of his receipt to the decision of the Committee.
The decision of the Undersecretary shall be final.
An applicant whose is refused may to appeal against the decision before
the High Civil Court within a date not exceeding sixty days from the date
of applicant notification by registered letter or within sixty days within
his knowledge of the decision if he is not notified.
Article (8)
The Ministry shall maintain specific register to list all the licensees who
are authorized to practice paramedical professions; the register shall
include the following details on the licensee:
1- Licensees registration number in the register.
2- Full name, title, nationality, age and CPR number.
3- The medical profession which the licensee is authorized to
practice.
4- Academic certificates and qualifications and date of obtaining
them.
5- Details on previous experience.
6- Date and number of the decision of the Committee to submit the
license.
7- The premises at which the licensee will practice.
8- Licensees domicile and address.
9- Any other details prescribed by an order from the Minister.
10The licensee shall be listed in the register following payment
of prescribed fees.
Article (9)
The license shall be submitted to the applicant following completion of
entry of the above-mentioned register. The Ministry shall on a regular
basis, publish a schedule of the registered names authorized to practice
paramedical professions, as it deems necessary.
Paramedical professions may be only practiced after being listed in the
register and obtaining the license according to the provisions of this law.
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Article (10)
A licensee who is authorized to work as a paramedic shall inform the
Ministry on any change that may take place for his residence address or
place of work within a maximum period of one month from the date
thereof, otherwise, the Ministry may delete the name of the licensee from
the register. The Ministry may re-enter the licensees name in the register
if it is informed on the new address provided a new registration fee is
paid.
Article (11)

If a licensee authorized to work as a paramedic contracts a

disease or a disability which causing the licensee to lose fitness
to exercise his work partially or entirely, the licensee and the
employer he works for jointly shall inform the Ministry and
refrain from practicing the profession until the Committee takes
a decision on the matter.
The Committee shall pass a decision either revoking the license issued
thereto and deleting the name of the licensee from the register or
specifying the works which the paramedic may exercise or prohibiting
him temporarily from exercising duties on the ground of his health
condition.
The Committee may reconsider its decision based on licensees health
condition.
Article (12)
The Minister of Health shall determine the licensing fees for practicing
each paramedical profession.
The Minister shall also determine the validity period of these licenses, as
well as conditions and procedures and renewal fees thereof.
Article (13)
A licensee authorized to practice the profession shall carry out his duties
with due accuracy and honesty, and shall maintain the integrity and
honour of the profession as well as complying with the duties and

responsibilities prescribed by an order from the Minister according to the

provisions of Article (3) of this law.
Article (14)
Any person practicing a paramedical profession may not conduct any
publicity for himself by any means whatsoever that could prejudice the
integrity of the profession whether this publicity is carried out through the
press, radio, Television, the cinema etc. This condition does not include
spreading health awareness by any of the above-mentioned means.
Article (15)
A licensee who is authorized to work as a paramedic shall not divulge
any confidential secrets that may have come to his knowledge through his
profession without a obtaining a court order to ensure course of justice.
Article (16)
Any center or a venue for the practice of paramedics may not be opened
without obtaining a license from the Ministry of Health to do so after the
approval of the Committee.
Article (17)
In order to obtain a license for opening centers and premises referred to in
the previous article, they must comply with the requirements and
specifications required for achieving their intended purposes.
The
Minister shall issue an order on the requirements, specifications,
equipments and supplies needed for these facilities, as well as the fees
and documents that must be submitted on applying for licenses or their
renewals. Any transfer of the center or the premises from its licensed
location or any substantial alternations therefor may not be carried out
without the Ministrys approval.
Article (18)
Licensees authorized to open centers or facilities for the practice of
paramedics shall carry out any modifications or additions requested by
the Ministry to be added to the requirements and specifications thereof.

Article (19)
Any person licensed to open a center or a premises for the practice of one
of the paramedical professions must fulfill the following conditions:
(a) A Bahraini National.
(b) A person who enjoys a good reputation and no criminal
judgments have been passed against him prejudicing his
integrity or honour, unless he has been forgiven by
competent authorities.

(c) A person who is authorized to practice this profession in

Bahrain. Holders of valid licenses on issuance of this law may
be exempted from this provision. In this case, a technical
manager authorized to practice the profession in Bahrain must
be appointed.
Article (20)
The premises may not be operated if a licensee to practice the profession
quits work or takes a leave. The Ministry in this case may agree on the
continuation of operating the premises if the licensee appoints another
technical manager authorized to practice the profession.
Article (21)
A licensee to practice as a paramedic may not be responsible for more
than one premises or center.
Article (22)
The Ministry shall have the right to request any of the licensees to
practice as paramedics, to maintain a registry for patients treated at their
facilities or centers which shall include all the details requested by the
Ministry.
Article (23)
The following violators shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a term
of imprisonment not exceeding three years and a fine not more than 1000
BD or by one of these penalties, as well as closing down of the premises

where those violators practice their work and confiscate the tools,
equipment and signboards, etc:
1- Any person who practices the profession or operates a premises for
practicing it, without obtaining a license.
2- Any person who has submitted false information or used
fraudulent methods through which he obtained a license to practice
the profession illegally.
3- Any person who is not authorized to practice the profession or who
has opened a premises practicing it to use publications, signboards
or any other means of publicity that would make the public believe
that he is entitled for practicing the profession, as well as, any
person who adopts a title that is usually used by paramedics.
4- Any person who is not authorized to practice one of these
professions or operates a premises for practicing it, with whom
medical equipment or instruments have been found from those
used by paramedics usually to practice the profession unless the
existence of such equipment or instruments is proved to have been
for legal reason.
In all cases the premises where violators practice their illegal work
shall be administratively closed down until the criminal case is
resolved.
Article (24)
Without prejudice to the civil or criminal responsibility, the
Committee shall have the authority to take a disciplinary action
against licensees authorized to practice one of the professions
provided for in this law or who are authorized to open a premises
for practicing these professions, if they commit any violations to
the provisions of this law or to the rules, requirements and morals
of the profession.
Article (25)
The disciplinary case shall be filed by a decision from the
Undersecretary. The Committee shall have its decision in the case
after notifying the violator to be present before the Committee one
week prior to the time fixed for the holding of the session by a
registered letter in which the summary of the charges against the
violator is stated as well as the date and place where the
Committee shall convene.

The Committee may investigate the charges attributable to the violator or

delegate one of its members therefore, and the Committee or the person
delegated by it to conduct investigation may on its own will, or upon the
request of the violator to summon witnesses to appear to give their
testimonies and the violator give his defence orally or in writing.
Article (26)
Disciplinary actions which may be imposed on the violator are as
follows:

First: for the licensee :

(a) Warning, this punishment may be imposed without the need for
summoning the violator before the Committee.
(b) Suspension, for a period not exceeding one year.
(c) Revocation of the license.
The last two punishments shall result in the closing down of the
licensed premises for the violator, if any.
Second: Owners of the premises who are authorized to practice the
profession:
(a) Warning, this punishment may be imposed without the need for
summoning the violator before the Committee.
(b) Closing down of the premises for a period not exceeding one year.
(c) Closing down of the premises for good and revocation of the
license.
Article (27)
A person whom an order has been issued against him on revocation of his
license or a closing down of his premises for good, according to the
provision of the above-mentioned article, may not apply for a new license
for practicing the profession or to open the premises unless until two
years have been passed from the issuance of the said order.
Article (28)
The Ministry shall have the right to inspect the premises where
paramedical professions are practiced. Employees designated for this
purpose by virtue of an order from the Minister, shall have the right to
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document the violations of this law or the orders issued in

implementation thereof.
Article (29)
Any person practicing as a paramedic effective of the date this law comes
into force, and who has been given a license from the Ministry to practice
the profession before the provisions of this law comes into force, as well
as any licensee to open a premises or center shall continue practicing the
profession, provided that he shall submit to the Ministry within maximum
period of three months from the date this law comes into force, the
required documents for his registration and submission of a new license
provided that he fulfills the requirements and conditions for the requested
license according to the provisions of this law.
If a licensee fails to submit these documents within the above-mentioned
period, his license for practicing the profession shall be cancelled.
Article (30)
The Minister shall issue the orders and regulations required for the
implementation of the provisions of this law.
Article (31)
Legislative decree No (24) for 1977, on the practice of Midwifery is
hereby repealed and any provision which is contrary thereto is so
repealed.
Article (32)
Ministers, within their respective areas of jurisdictions, shall implement
the provisions of this law, which shall be effective after one month from
the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Acting Amir of the State of Bahrain
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Issued in Riffa Palace

On: 17th Jumada Al Akhira 1407 A.H.
Corresponding to: 16th February 1987

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List of Paramedical Professions:

1- Nursing
2- Midwifery and Obstetrics
3- Laboratories
4- Radiology (Check up and treatment)
5- Physiotherapy
6- Dentistry (prosthodontics- making-treatment of simple cases)
7- Optics (making-mounting)
8- Acoustics and speech therapy
9- Electrocardiography
10Nutrition
11Respiratory apparatus
12Nucleus Medicine
13Artificial limbs
14Health inspection with its various branches.

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