Prepared by: Dr. Musa Ajlouni January, 2010 - World Health ...

outinely planned for. Although there has been in-service management trainingprovided to certain MOH managers, this has often been in response to donoragency funding rather than a defined need by the MOH itself. 35A job classification system exists in MOH, but it is not used as a basis for otherhuman resource management functions (e.g. job descriptions, hiring, salary andbenefits).All decisions regarding HRH recruitment, placement, termination and compensationare centralized in MOH. Decentralization function as a governmental process is stillfacing many constraints, due to lateness and inability of local governorates toimplement decentralization mechanisms and modules.6.3 Professional Associations RegulationsAll health professionals must be licensed by the Ministry of Health. Registration inthe related professional association is mandatory before licensing. During the period1960-1982, the Jordan Medical Association certified doctors after they fulfilledspecified requirements. Since 1982 the Jordan Medical Council certifies doctors asgeneral practitioners and specialists. Specialty associations affiliated with the JordanMedical Association provide voluntary certification to their members. Healthcarequality assessment studies in Jordan have not measured the effect of healthprofessional certification on the quality of healthcare.Physicians and other healthcare workers are held liable for mistakes ormisadventures by the laws of Jordan Health Professional Associations and thebylaws and ethics of health professions. The Health Professional Associations werelegally organized by law No. 13-1972 for the Jordan Medical Association, law No.17-1972 for the Jordan Dentistry Association, law No. 15-1972 for the JordanPharmacists Association, law No. 18-1972 for the Jordan Nurses and MidwivesAssociation and law 53-2006 for the Jordanian Nursing Council.Professional bodies are assuming the role of implementing, monitoring andenforcing the approved rules and regulations regarding each profession. Thedisciplinary council of each health profession includes representatives of therespective professional association. Most malpractice issues are dealt with by thecouncil and few are settled by the court. The Ministry of Health is also mandated tohandle legal, ethical, and malpractice issues related to the practice of all healthprofessionals in the country. Consumer Protection Society defends and promotespatients' rights and interests and monitors adherence of health professionals toformal fees schedules.There is shortage of managerial skills in MOH and professional associations tomanage and monitor adherence with health laws and regulations. As enforcement ofhealth laws is a shared process among all parties concerned, a national program forcapacity building in this area is highly needed.Health and medical ethics have general references in public health law, laws ofhealth professions associations and internal hospital by-laws. However, Jordan does68