Ministry of Health Tightens Patient Transfer Protocols

The Ministry of Health has introduced new directives to regulate patient transfers between healthcare facilities, aiming to ensure high-quality care through improved coordination. According to the new guidelines, hospitals cannot reject a transferred patient based solely on the unavailability of beds in a specific department; they are required to review the facility's overall reception capacity before issuing a reasoned response. The process mandates obtaining prior consent from the receiving institution and ensuring the medical justification and safe transportation of the patient. Health directors are now responsible for coordinating transfers across provinces, leveraging the expertise and specialized facilities of university hospitals for complex cases. Furthermore, every healthcare institution must appoint a permanent coordinator to manage communication and ensure seamless transitions for patients, reflecting a commitment to ending arbitrary refusals and enhancing healthcare accessibility.