Press Release
The Problem of Medical Exemptions is One of the Secretions of a Poor Health Care Policy in Jordan
(Translated)

The deputies and the government exchanged accusations regarding the medical exemptions’ file, when the government transferred the management of this file to the Royal Court, under the pretext of rationalizing expenditures and controlling the issuance of exemptions to the real beneficiaries, and on the pretext that the data is with the Royal Court in order to be scrutinized, under the cover of its failure to manage this issue. The deputies objected fiercely to this measure and demanded the return of the file of medical exemptions to the Prime Ministry, under the pretext of not imposing any additional burdens on the Royal Court. Perhaps this objection is related to depriving the deputies of the medical exemption service, which is considered a service honour that they provide to gain their electoral bases that they are will not be capable of winning if these powers are in the hands of the Court Royal, and the honours will be exclusively for it.

Before delving into what is behind these exemptions, we find that the government sets in each budget an amount of no less than 100 million dinars for health exemptions, which are exceeded every year to reach 450 million dinars in one year and 280 million dinars in another year. It has exceeded 220 million dinars at the end of last year. It is not regulated by a mechanism that allows this money go to its beneficiaries, assuming the exactness of its mechanism. It is part of the poor health care policy in Jordan and its failure by basing it on the utilitarian capitalist policy in addressing this vital interest of the people.

We did not see, in the intense debate between the deputies, the government, and the royal Court, evidence that the issue is related to health care for the sick, the needy, and the deserving. Rather, the conversation revolved around powers and privileges, as if the exemption clause is one of the chapters on material and political gains and the sharing of these privileges, and it is so. Many influential and loyal people are benefiting from it, and accordingly a compromise solution was reached that preserves the privileges of the government, representatives and the Court. Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al-Safadi announced on Monday, 20/3/2023, that the issue of exemptions ended with an agreement to grant each deputy 10 new exemptions, and that the exemptions for cancer and heart patients are open. Thus, the government achieves part of the economic dictates required from the International Monetary Fund, and the deputies achieve a service role towards the people, covering up their negligent political role.

The problem is not in the medical exemptions clause, which is considered a defect to be discussed by itself, but rather the problem is in the medical health care policy in all its aspects and the foundations it is based on. Among its most prominent features:

1- The multiplicity of agencies that supervise health services, as if we are in several countries, each of which has its own privileges and independence in its establishment to suit the benefits of the influential authorities in the existing system. This is scatters efforts and increases expenses. The health care is run from the hospitals of the Ministry of Health, and they are the most backward in keeping up with developments in health care, military medical services, government universities, and the services and hospitals of the private sector.

2- Neglecting the level of health services provided by the Ministry of Health, which covers two-thirds of the population, which means the necessary and appropriate medical treatments are not available. The lack of medical service in government hospitals in terms of quantity and quality, especially in chronic diseases, is what resulted in the issue of medical exemptions that push patients to seek treatment from other medical agencies as if they are in another country.

3- The multiplicity of purchases of these agencies for medical supplies, equipment and medicines, each according to its distinct budget from the other, according to its proximity and favour with the decision-maker who established it. So, the state pays the costs of huge sums of money that people pay from their pockets through exorbitant taxes.

4- Health insurance is one of the patch work of the capitalist system. It is a way to cover the costs of health care, and it is based on taxes, or through health insurance companies that the state invented in the capitalist system as it is not obligated to take care of people’s affairs, to patch up its failure to fulfill its responsibility of the Ummah’s sufficiency. One who cannot pay the expenses of this insurance premium from the medical service will be deprived. So, he will beg for his right to treatment as a privilege from the system, through medical exemptions that drain hundreds of millions of dinars annually, which if spent in the right direction for health care, a hospital equipped with all modern services would be built every year and would re- update existing hospitals.

In the face of these decades-old crises in medical health care, we in the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah of Jordan emphasize the following:

1- The miserable reality of government hospitals proves beyond any doubt the state’s negligence and failure to take care of the affairs of the people of Jordan in general and their health care in particular, including the failure to provide services that keep pace with scientific progress, and to provide appropriate treatments and medicines for chronic diseases, and this requires radical revision of health care policy and the foundations it is based on.

2- Medicine is one of the interests and utilities that people cannot do without. The Prophet (saw) commanded Muslims to seek treatment, and taught them that Allah (swt) did not send down a disease except that He sent down a cure and treatment for it. In this is an urge for them to strive for medication, and obtain the cure, by Allah’s permission, who created in medicine the healing feature. The Prophet (saw) said: «لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءٌ، فَإِذَا أُصِيبَ دَوَاءُ الدَّاءِ بَرَأَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ»“There is a medicine for every disease, and when the medicine is applied to the disease it is cured by Allah’s permission.” [Narrated by Muslim]. In another version: «تَدَاوَوْا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ دَاءً إِلا أَنْزَلَ مَعَهُ شِفَاءً، إِلا الْمَوْتَ وَالْهَرَمَ»“Seek medication, servants of Allah, for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has not sent down a disease without sending along with it a cure, except for death and old age” [Narrated by Tirmidhi].

3- The Shariah made health care a direct responsibility of the state and the caliph. The Prophet (saw) said: «الإِمَامُ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْؤُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ»“The Imam is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]. Health is one of the basic needs of the citizens, the Prophet (saw) said: «مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمْ مُعَافًى فِي جَسَدِهِ، آمِنًا فِي سِرْبِهِ، عِنْدَهُ قُوتُ يَوْمِهِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا حِيزَتْ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا»“Whoever among you wakes up physically healthy, feeling safe and secure within himself, with food for the day, it is as if he acquired the whole world.’” Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah with a chain of transmission that Al-Albani classed as Hasan (good), making health a basic need like food and security.

4- Islam requires that the view towards the citizens is equal, so the state does not differentiate in caring for affairs between individuals who hold citizenship and others, so there is no consideration for religion, gender, race, age, or place of residence.

5- The administrative system of health care in the Islamic State is based on simplicity and swiftness in providing health services and treatment, as well as on the competence of those in charge of administration. This is taken from the reality of achieving interests in general, the owner of any interest only wants to quickly achieve his interest and achieve it in the most complete manner. The Messenger (saw) said as narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذَّبْحَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ فَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ» “Allah who is blessed and exalted has decreed that everything should be done in a good way, so when you kill use a good method, and when you cut an animal’s throat you should use a good method, for each of you should sharpen his knife and give the animal as little pain as possible.” [Muslim transmitted it].

6- The state provides health care free of charge to the citizens, regardless of whether they are rich who have access to medical expenses, or poor, who do not; because maintaining health is a basic need for all people, rich and poor.

7- The burden of such comprehensive and free health care is not seen on the state treasury. Rather, the health problem is viewed as a humanitarian problem, not as an economic problem. So, the goal is to provide health care to the citizens in the best and most complete way, the goal is not to save resources of the state or the economy.

8- Health care is a necessary need, the provision of which is considered one of the vital interests of the Ummah, and its loss threatens the life of the Ummah. Therefore, the Islamic State must be at the forefront of the countries in terms of health care, and a group of doctors, scientists and specialists who are scientifically and effectively qualified must be found to devise the methods and means necessary for health care. It is necessary to provide them with the highest research and innovation capabilities. The goal is for the Islamic State to take control of health care and become self-sufficient.

This is how Hizb ut Tahrir looks at the health care policy and caring for the interests of the Ummah, and as a matter of its readiness for the soon-to-be-established Khilafah (Caliphate) State, Allah willing, which it works to establish with the Ummah. It has explained the method and the foundations of the health care policy in a book entitled, Health Care Policy in the Khilafah State, that guarantees it, Allah willing, to be at the forefront of the countries of the world in this care, as nations aspired to it at the height of its Islamic rule.

[قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ]

“Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."” [Yusuf: 108]

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Jordan