Amman, Aug. 10 (FANA/Petra) -- Jordan's healthcare sector recorded broad advances in infrastructure, specialized treatment, pharmaceutical regulation and digital services during 2025-2026, as the Kingdom expanded hospital capacity, introduced advanced medical technologies and strengthened access to healthcare.

The developments included the addition of 577 hospital beds, rehabilitation of 49 health centers and establishment of 14 new centers, alongside expanded digital healthcare coverage and the introduction of advanced treatments, including gene therapies and robotic surgery.

The sector's development also reflects the Royal vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II to build an efficient healthcare system combining technological advancement with national and humanitarian responsibility.

Among the major initiatives was the Royal initiative to receive and treat 2,000 sick and injured children from the Gaza Strip in Jordanian hospitals. Jordan also signed an agreement to provide 4.1 million citizens with comprehensive and sustainable cancer treatment coverage through the King Hussein Cancer Center's "Reaya" program.

The Ministry of Health's expansion program increased the number of beds in the national healthcare system by around 10 percent. A major component was the inauguration by King Abdullah of Princess Basma Hospital in Irbid, with a capacity of 504 beds.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II also inaugurated the Jerash Comprehensive Health Center and the Jordan Digital Health Center in Salt District.

The Digital Health Center provides remote services in dialysis, radiology and intensive care, as well as telemedicine consultations through audio and video communication, aimed at reducing travel and waiting times and addressing shortages in certain medical specialties.

Development projects also included the rehabilitation of Amman Field Hospital with advanced emergency, intensive care and dialysis departments, laying the foundation stone for a new building at Prince Faisal Hospital in Russeifa and establishing an open-heart surgery department at Zarqa Government Hospital.

The ministry also established or rehabilitated 13 strategic medical warehouses across the Kingdom, equivalent to 40 percent of its total medical storage facilities.

Healthcare quality and governance measures included reactivating the Higher Health Council and establishing the headquarters of the Arab Board of Health Specializations in Jordan.

A further 27 healthcare facilities received accreditation, bringing the number of Ministry of Health facilities accredited by the Health Care Accreditation Council to 216. Eight new medical subspecialties were introduced, raising the total number of accredited subspecialties to 20.

Al-Bashir Hospitals and Al-Iman Hospital in Ajloun also ranked first in the National Integrity Index.

Clinical services were expanded through the inclusion of the pneumococcal vaccine in the National Immunization Program and the introduction of unified national cancer treatment protocols in cooperation with the King Hussein Cancer Center, Royal Medical Services and university hospitals.

National protocols were also introduced for treating acute cardiac conditions through catheterization and for stroke cases.

To reduce pressure on hospitals and shorten waiting times, the ministry began implementing appointment management systems at Al-Bashir, Prince Hamzah, Zarqa and Princess Basma hospitals, while extending evening operating hours at nearby comprehensive health centers.

National measures were also introduced to reduce waiting times for MRI scans and mammograms.

The ministry developed 19 pieces of legislation governing the healthcare sector and launched the National Quality and Patient Safety Strategy 2024-2030, the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and the National Cancer Control Strategy 2026-2030.

It also expanded cooperation with other national institutions, including agreements with the King Hussein Cancer Center to cover 4.1 million citizens under the Reaya program and maintain treatment for previously referred patients, with the Royal Medical Services to provide healthcare services in Azraq District, and with the Public Security Directorate to develop pre-hospital emergency services.

Jordan also hosted the eighth conference of health ministers of Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states and signed five international memoranda of understanding.

Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) Director General Rana Obeidat told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the Kingdom has continued to strengthen its pharmaceutical regulatory framework by aligning national requirements with international standards.

The JFDA officially joined the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) at the beginning of 2026, a step Obeidat said strengthens Jordan's pharmaceutical inspection system and facilitates the entry of locally manufactured medicines into international markets.

The development follows the JFDA's membership in the United States Pharmacopeia since 2010 and its accession to the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) in 2024.

Jordan has 33 pharmaceutical manufacturing plants exporting products to more than 80 countries.

Pharmaceutical exports reached JD729.3 million in 2025, comprising 2,279 pharmaceutical products shipped to 54 international markets. The number of medicines registered with the JFDA reached 9,056.

Jordan Private Hospitals Association President Fawzi Hammouri said the Kingdom continues to strengthen its position as a regional medical tourism center, supported by its recognition as a medical and wellness tourism destination by the UN tourism agency.

Jordan's private healthcare sector has introduced a range of advanced medical technologies, including robotic surgery, genetically modified CAR-T cell therapy for blood cancers, liver transplantation and treatments for rare inherited bone marrow disorders, including cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).

The sector has also introduced digital dental implant procedures without conventional surgery and artificial intelligence-supported four-dimensional MRI technology designed to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce examination times.

Under King Abdullah's initiative to treat 2,000 children from Gaza, private hospitals had received around 700 sick and injured children from the Strip by August 2026, including patients requiring complex medical and surgical treatment.

Hammouri said Jordan's medical tourism sector also benefits from the combination of healthcare services with natural therapeutic destinations, including the Dead Sea and mineral springs, alongside religious and historical attractions such as the Baptism Site.

Digital transformation has become another major component of healthcare development, with the "Hakeem" program, launched by Electronic Health Solutions in 2009 under Royal patronage, expanding to 500 computerized healthcare facilities across the Kingdom.

The program automated and computerized an additional 153 Ministry of Health facilities, bringing the ministry's total to 410, including 31 hospitals, 372 health centers and seven medical laboratories.

Hakeem services have expanded to include the "Hakeem Exchange" platform, artificial intelligence technologies for interpreting radiology images and financial billing and accounting systems.

The "My Hakeem" application, developed in 2021, allows users to access medical records, laboratory results and radiology reports, book appointments, arrange monthly medication deliveries and make electronic payments.

The application also includes the "Shahm" virtual assistant, which provides round-the-clock responses to user inquiries.

The Ministry of Health's digitalization program has also connected the Digital Health Center with 12 government hospitals and three health centers to provide telemedicine services, while 77 additional electronic services have been automated.

Electronic Health Solutions' "HDA" program has established the Jordan Health Registry (JHR), incorporating national registries covering diabetes, dialysis and newborn hearing screening to provide data for scientific research and evidence-based healthcare decision-making.

Jordan has also moved to expand professional specialization in nursing and midwifery.

Jordanian Nursing Council Secretary General Hani Nawafleh told Petra that Cabinet approval of the 2026 Nursing and Midwifery Specialization and Technical Classification Regulation marked an important step in developing specialized nursing professions.

He said the regulation was developed following a comprehensive review of international practices and in line with the vision of HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein, President of the Jordanian Nursing Council, to strengthen Jordan's role as a regional center of nursing expertise and expand the pool of specialized professionals available to national and international healthcare institutions.

The expansion of infrastructure, specialized medical services, pharmaceutical regulation and digital healthcare reflects Jordan's efforts to develop a more integrated and sustainable healthcare system while strengthening the Kingdom's position as a regional provider of medical services.

//Petra// RZ

10/08/2026 08:02:55