Ammon News -

Prime Minister stated on the response to the coronavirus pandemic as he vowed that his government will continue to apply well-thought and responsible measures needed to address the crisis, indicating that "health security is part and parcel of national security."

The prime minister noted that his government was formed in the midst of the societal spread of the coronavirus pandemic and had two options: either to move towards total or partial and tight closures, or to double health capabilities to keep the epidemiological situation under control, and to enable the health system to deal with any emergency developments.

Accordingly, he added, the government has worked diligently to double health capacities and take precautionary measures to avoid resorting to total or partial tight lockdown, due to its severe economic, social and psychological costs and consequences for citizens.

In this regard, the prime minister noted that the number of isolation beds for COVID patients increased to 4,551 while ICU beds increased to 981. Additionally, the premier said the number of ventilators jumped to 936, noting that the government managed to double the healthcare system capacity by 300 percent.

He also spoke on other measures, including the establishment and operation of an intensive care hospital at the Al-Bashir Hospital, in addition to renting a private hospital to back up the health system’s response to the pandemic.

Furthermore, Khasawneh said his government had signed contracts with private healthcare providers to treat COVID patients at the government’s expense.

Other measures included the setting up of four public hospitals in Amman, Irbid, Ma’an, and Aqaba with a combined bed capacity of 1,160, in addition to three army-run field hospitals with a 900-bed capacity, according to the prime minister.

He indicated that the government has appointed 920 doctors and 1,600 nurses to cover the shortage in medical and nursing staff, promising an expansion of training and rehabilitation programs to include new specializations and larger numbers.

In response to royal directives, Khasawneh pointed out that his government has taken legislative measures to establish a national center for epidemics and communicable disease to build up capacities against the current pandemic or any future diseases.

As for the COVID-19 vaccine, the prime minister told the lawmakers that his government had already signed a contract with Pfizer to buy one million shots of the coronavirus vaccine, in addition to two million shots through the COVAX Facility.

He added that efforts are underway to increase this quantity of vaccines which will be administered to citizens free of charge according to a tightly-knit, transparent and priority-based plan.

"Although we have arrived at a stable and better epidemiological situation in terms of health system capabilities; however, we will continue to work cautiously, gradually and safely in dealing with the pandemic, especially with the emergence of the mutated virus, until we reach a stage in which we and the world are certain that we have overcome the pandemic and its effects and repercussions on health and various sectors," the premier indicated.

In addition to the recent relaxation of night curfew hours, Khasawneh said the government will soon review other measures and take new steps regarding relaxing the Friday lockdown or the opening of new sectors if the epidemiological situation continues to improve.

He added: "The government is looking forward to making a qualitative leap in the health sector in its entirety, by developing health care services, through improving the infrastructure of hospitals and health centers, continuing to achieve accreditation standards, and providing the necessary medical and nursing personnel and equipment."

Khasawneh indicated that his government is seeking to introduce comprehensive health insurance in cooperation with the Royal Medical Services, university hospitals and the private sector, to provide optimal healthcare for Jordanians in all governorates.

To that end, the prime minister indicated, the government has formed a committee from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Social Security Corporation to lay down a clear roadmap for implementing comprehensive health insurance.