Yemeni patients in Jordan: distinctive services, few complaints

Jordan has recently become an attractive center for Yemeni patients seeking medical treatment. It has outmatched several countries that formally were the cynosure for Yemeni patients including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and India.

The number of Yemeni patients going to Jordan increased during 2008 -2009. Yemen Observer seized the opportunity of being in Jordan to explore this phenomenon.

Information indicates that Yemeni patients occupy the primary positions at the top ten private and public hospitals in Jordan.

Jordanian health official emphasize that Yemeni patients enjoy preferential treatment, with a discount mounting to 20 percent of medical bills, the same discount offered to Jordanians.

Yemenis, who laud the distinctive level of health services in Jordan, have met this preferential treatment with commendation.

Yemen Observer had the opportunity to meet with several nationals visiting hospitals in order to discuss their experiences and feelings, in an effort to expose the desire of so many to receive treatment in Jordan.

Yemeni national, Mohammed Ahmed al-Sanhani, at the famous Ahli Hospital in Amman, complained of being delayed for more than a week while waiting for examinations in Yemen. He received several excuses, including a claim that medical devices were out of order. However, upon voicing his concern, the hospital’s director showed immediate sympathy and resolved the patient’s problem.


Sanhani said that the minute he set his foot in the Amman airport he was met with respect and regard. He emphasized his great trust in the competence of Jordanian medical services, which they provide not only to Yemenis, but also to patients from all over the world.

Ahmed Hassan Aidh’s father passed away in the same hospital. Despite his sorrow he said that he has been frequenting Jordanian hospitals for a long period of time. He highlighted the good level of care he has found, which often decreases the pains of the patients he accompanies.

Aidh spoke of his father’s death, saying that it was expected; the doctors had previously spoken frankly to him of his fathers deteriorated condition in effort to console and prepare Aidh.

Ali Ahmed Oudah said he turned to the Jordanian system for care for his son’s operation at what he described as “acceptable costs in comparison to those in Yemen or Egypt.” The same procedure in Yemen, he added, was available, but at a cost of three thousand dollars, with a success rate of 30 percent. Upon learning this, however, a doctor advised him to go to Jordan. He contacted a Jordanian hospital before traveling seeking information. Administrative staff sent him an outline of the cost; a four thousand dollars inclusive package with a success rate of 75 percent.

However, there are cases that took longer to prove successful. Faiz Hojaira said that an operation was performed on his mother. He complained of mistreatment at the Queen Alia hospital, where a doctor who made a fallacious diagnosis on his mother, costing him over five hundred Jordanian Dinars ($700USD).

Hojaira remarked that it was not the loss of money that mattered, but rather the concern regarding the serious cons

Al-Ulifi, received Hojaira’s complaint and promised to follow up with the relevant Jordanian authorities, displaying his optimism for a positive Jordanian response to all Yemeni patients’ complaints.

Al-Ulifi and Dr.Ali Mohammed Khalil the medical military attache  at the Yemeni embassay in Amman make almost daily tours to the hospitals and medical centers which Yemeni patients frequent. The embassy follows their cases and resolves their problems at the Jordanian Ministry of Health. He lauded the cooperation they receive from the health authorities, especially after the ascension of Dr. Naif al-Faiz to the Health Ministry.

Al-Ulifi said that any Yemeni patients in Jordan who come to the embassy find the necessary facilities regarding appropriate hospitals for their care. The embassy also provides information for patients companions for housing at appropriate costs. He also added that embassy staff follow up on all cases with the Jordanian doctors.

The medical military attache  at the Yemeni embassay in Amman Dr.Ali Mohammed Khalil asked all Yemeni patients to consult with the embassy in regard to their grievances. He encouraged all nationals to make use of the services and advice the embassy provides.

Despite al-Ulifi’s praise of the health services and treatment available in Jordan, he directed attention to some cases of passive attitudes, where several patients have had their cases dealt with dishonestly. However, he asserted, such limited situations do not represent the Jordanian health facilities on the whole.

He pointed to a case where a Yemeni citizen received a bill of 45,000 dinars ($60,000 USD) after the death of a particular patient. The citizen consulted the embassy, which took the case to the Health Minister. The minister directed a committee to investigate the case. Within two days the investigation team visited the suspect hospital, whereupon they discovered the exaggerated bills. A correct bill of 8,000 dinars was provided, and the situation was resolved. 

The Jordanian Minister of Health, Dr. Naïf Al-Faiz, emphasized that the Jordanian government has placed medical tourism as a top priority, underscoring the ministry’s desire to further develop this field.

Al-Faiz said that the ministry refuses any disadvantages that disturb the provision of ideal medical services for Yemenis who seek medical care in Jordan.

In response to several complaints of lack of Jordanian medical commitment offered by some Yemeni patients, the Minister stressed the importance for private sector hospitals to abide by the legislated medical rates, regulations and procedures.

Dr. Faiz has called upon the Hospital Directors’ Association to set specific mechanisms for the regulation of the medical tourism under the ministry’s supervision and coordination.

He pointed out that any negative exposure or treatment is unacceptable, adding that the ministry is giving personal attention to the subject. He explained that Jordan desires to provide fully integrated services, in terms of medical procedures, prices, and quality treatment

The Executive Director of the Foundation for Jordanian Economic Development Projects, Engineer Ya’rob al-Qodat, said that revenues from the Medical Health Tourism Sector amounted to over one billion dinars in 2009. He explained the arrival of patients under the banner of “medical tourism” had increased ten percent over the previous year, with 21,000 people seeking care.

Jordan has succeeded in attracting patients from the USA, East Asia and Eastern Europe in the past few years. The attraction is due to the quality of Jordanian care and medical services. Jordan is at the cutting edge of medical services, Ya’rob al-Qodat proclaimed.

He added that the Foundation has apportioned 34 million dinars for the financing of service projects in the Kingdom, including the medical services, intending to establish qualitative services.

Chairman of the Private Hospitals’ Association Fawzi al-Hammori said that a periodical program has been approved, which will send Jordanian medical delegations to Yemen for regulating the joint activities and to perform medical operations according to the previously scheduled needs for surgical specialization.

The program will also receive trainees in various specializations for education in Jordanian hospitals, particularly in intensive care units, cardiac surgery and organ transplantation.  

In order to avoid the disadvantages that could possibly face Yemeni patients in Jordan, the Association issued a directory guide for all Yemeni patients, including all information necessary in order to access hospitals and doctors. In the case of any problems or difficulties, the guide directs patients to the relevant authorities. The guide will be distributed through the Jordanian embassy in Sana’a, in Yemeni and Jordanian airports, at the health ministries of the two countries and in the Yemeni embassy in Jordan.

Al-Hammori stressed that the Jordanian medical treatment costs are not high if compared to the costs in other countries, such as Yemen, Sudan and Libya.  He noted that the collective contracts for the Yemeni delegations takes deductions of 15% on the invoice, rendering receipts the same price as the costs for Jordanian patient. Such generosity happens in no other Arab country.

Yemen will continue supporting medical tourism to Jordan. It will continue to send patients for treatment because of the high quality public and private medical services, said Yemeni Deputy Health Minister  Dr.Ghazi Ismail.

Dr.Ahmad al-Zarii the general manager  of international cooperation at the health ministry expressed the Yemeni desire for more Jordanian attention for  mechanisms of prices control and guidance to the Yemeni patients. 

 Yemen observer met in Jordan with directors of the hospitals that are widely frequented by Yemeni patients. They are Jordan Specialized hospital, Arab Center, al-Isra’, Prince Hamza, King Establishment, Amman, Al-Hassan Medical city, Independence,  and al-Hayat.

They all emphasized their commitment to the  price list approved by the Health Ministry, provision of facilities to Yemeni patients as well as abiding by Quality services  and special rates to Yemenis.

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