Grilling of Health Minister Ahmed Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Sabah
On February 19, 2007, Al-Tabtabaie submitted a motion to formally question Health Minister Sheik Ahmed Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Sabah about allegations of favoritism, deteriorating health services offered by state hospitals, and wasting public money by sending people for treatment abroad at the country's expense when they could be treated at home. The motion was signed and supported by Ali Al-Omair, Duaij Al-Shimmari, Faisal Al-Muslim Al-Otaib, Hussein Muzyed, Abdullah Okash, Abdullah Al-Azemi, Saad Al-Azemi, Dhaifallah Buramia, Marzouq Al-Hubaini and Mohammad Al-Mutair.
The minister acknowledged "mistakes were made" and said the standard of health services was not as it should be because health spending has not been a priority for decades. He said the money spent on treatment abroad since 2001—some 260 million dinars (US$902.77 million)--could have been used for building several hospitals.
But Al-Tabtabaie said the minister's comments did not go far enough, and at the end of the 10-hour parliament session, he collected the 10 signatures needed to hold a vote of no confidence.
"What do you mean you referred it to the prosecution? Are you trying to cheat parliament?" Al-Tabtabaie asked the minister. "The official responsible for treatment abroad is still on top of his job."
Read more about this topic: Waleed Al-Tabtabaie
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