THE BD6 million Royal Bahrain Hospital (RBH) in Salmaniya was yesterday inaugurated by Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi.

He said the presence of such facilities helped raise the bar for healthcare system in the kingdom and tapped India's expertise in the sector.

"We have started work on two primary medical centres in Barbar and Isa Town," he said.

"The government is keen to develop a synergy between the private and public sectors to ensure modern and top-class medicare reaches every part of Bahrain."

Hospital president Ahmed Jawahery said RBH has been conferred a special Indo-Bahraini project status by the Economic Development Board.

"It has been designed, equipped and staffed to create a paradigm shift in the medical service provision landscape of Bahrain.

"Since our opening, we've had nearly 65,000 patient visits to our hospital for consultations, treatments and check-ups. We have also had 1,400 surgeries."

The project is a collaboration between KIMS Group and Bahraini investors.

Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar, ministry Under-Secretary Dr Aysha Mubarak Buaneq and public health and primary care assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Jalahama attended.