Geneva, 18 September 2012 — The International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Dr Unni Karunakara, met yesterday with a Bahraini parliamentary delegation that included the Minister of Human Rights, Dr Salah Bin Ali Abdularahman.

At the meeting in Geneva, Dr Karunakara raised issues relating to the need for impartial access to healthcare in Bahrain, and the obligation of medical staff to provide health services regardless of patients’ political or sectarian affiliations.

The MSF President reiterated the organisation’s willingness to provide technical support in emergency preparedness and mental healthcare, which was received positively by the Bahraini delegation.

Minister Dr Salah Bin Ali Abdularahman and Undersecretary Khalifa Yusuf Ahmed Al-Kaabi encouraged MSF to resubmit its proposal for activities in Bahrain, and gave assurances that they would provide the necessary support to allow prompt implementation. 

An invitation was extended from the Bahraini government to the MSF President to visit the country and follow up on this commitment.

MSF’s official registration in Bahrain was also discussed.