A new policy requiring Jordanians to pay for blood has sparked widespread anger, with many calling it another example of the public being forced to shoulder the burden of the government's financial woes.
Jordanians undergoing surgery are used to being given units of blood free from the country's blood banks, provided they donate the same amount in return.
But the new policy requires them to pay US$21 (Dh77) for each unit at public hospitals and still donate blood for free.
After much criticism of the new policy, the health ministry on Monday appeared to soften its stance and said it would charge a fee only for the first five units.
At private hospitals, patients are asked to pay $45 for each blood unit, and for non-Jordanians the rate has doubled to $60. Cancer patients and those diagnosed with blood diseases or hepatitis are excluded from the payments.
The decision has become so unpopular in the country, that it has become a national joke.
Imad Hajjaj, the country's renowned cartoonist, played on the theme in one of his cartoons published in Alghad newspaper last month.
He depicted Abu Mahjoob, his main character, ridiculing the pricing formula.
"I donate my blood so that they would sell it for $45! ... Dracula is better ... come and have one [suck] for five dinars," Abu Mahjoob tells the mythical vampire.
The health ministry defended itself against the criticism. Nayef al Fayez, the health minister, said the ministry is not a vampire, and that it is not selling blood to make a profit.
"Jordanian's blood is too precious to be sold," Mr al Fayez told reporters last week.
He said it is simply asking citizens to pitch in part of the fees it incurs from running a host of tests on donated blood to ensure its safety.
The minister explained that the fee at public hospitals covered only 25 per cent of blood-testing costs that reached almost $9 million last year.
On average, 100,000 Jordanians donate their blood annually, refilling the blood bank with 95,000 units or litres, but Mr al Fayez said private hospitals and doctors are responsible for wasting half of the blood units they receive.
"The [measure] is to help curb squandering of the blood caused by the private hospitals," he said. "Private hospitals in western Amman asked for a total of 50,166 blood units, but they only used 25,325 units."
But the Private Hospital Association and private-sector doctors disagreed with this assessment.
"Surgeons are the ones who determine how many units they need, not a hospital's administrations," Fawzi Hammouri, the head of the hospital association, said.
Mazen Hanna, a gynecologist, described the decision as illogical. "The ministry is asking for too much. In some instances, if I wanted to perform a minor surgery, I ask my patients to secure up to five blood units and between 10 and 15 for major ones. We return the ones that are not used to the blood bank.
"It is not logical that the fee of blood transfusion might cost more than the surgery itself. We do not approve of such measures."
Mr al Fayez insisted that the decision would only affect five per cent of Jordanians because 87 per cent are covered by insurance. There are also uninsured citizens who can obtain medical exemptions from the Royal Court, he said.
Since Jordanians donate their blood for free, many are furious at the thought of having to pay for units in return.
"My cousin and I donated blood for my friend's son," said Firas Mustafa, 27.
"My cousin's blood group is rare and I think the lab should be paying him money," he said as he left a blood bank in eastern Amman. "I don't think I will ever donate my blood again. People are hardly making ends meet. It is as if one is buying his own blood."
The fees are most likely to affect those not covered by a health insurance scheme. Most of those without insurance are refugees who are ineligible for public insurance. There are 120,000 Palestinian refugees from Gaza registered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) who do not hold a national identity number that recognises them as citizens. Jordan is also home to between 500,000 and 750,000 Iraqi refugees.
Abu Husam, a Palestinian refugee from Gaza whose wife is awaiting an operation to remove a dead foetus, said he was surprised by the decision.
"I managed to get an exemption from the UNRWA for the operation," he said. "The hospital asked me to bring two blood units for my wife. If I am donating my blood, why should we pay, this is not acceptable. But I will not let my wife die."
@Email:smaayeh@thenational.ae
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The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
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In Praise of Zayed
A thousand grains of Sand whirl in the sky
To mark the journey of one passer-by
If then a Cavalcade disturbs the scene,
Shall such grains sing before they start to fly?
What man of Honour, and to Honour bred
Will fear to go wherever Truth has led?
For though a Thousand urge him to retreat
He'll laugh, until such counsellors have fled.
Stands always One, defiant and alone
Against the Many, when all Hope has flown.
Then comes the Test; and only then the time
Of reckoning what each can call his own.
History will not forget: that one small Seed
Sufficed to tip the Scales in time of need.
More than a debt, the Emirates owe to Zayed
Their very Souls, from outside influence freed.
No praise from Roderic can increase his Fame.
Steadfastness was the Essence of his name.
The changing years grow Gardens in the Sand
And build new Roads to Sand which stays the same.
But Hearts are not rebuilt, nor Seed resown.
What was, remains, essentially Alone.
Until the Golden Messenger, all-wise,
Calls out: "Come now, my Friend!" - and All is known
- Roderic Fenwick Owen
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
SPECS
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Test series fixtures
(All matches start at 2pm UAE)
1st Test Lord's, London from Thursday to Monday
2nd Test Nottingham from July 14-18
3rd Test The Oval, London from July 27-31
4th Test Manchester from August 4-8
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
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Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.