However, the decision does not include foreign husbands married to Bahrainis and their children as they have to continue to pay for all government services until similar proposals will be approved by the authority concerned.
Al Asala Bloc member Ibrahim Bosoundel confirmed contacting health officials who said that the implementation of the proposal had started from October 19. He praised the government for easing the burden of Bahraini men married to foreigners by paying for the high cost of some medical treatment.
Similar proposals approved by the parliament are still awaiting action from the government such as treating children of Bahraini mothers married to foreigners as locals when it comes to government fees, including health services.
The proposal was approved early this year by the Parliamentary Service Committee, Bosoundel said.
The pending proposal gives exception for children and husbands of Bahraini women to all medical services and study fees in institutions owned by the government.
According to the nationality law, children of Bahraini mothers married to foreigners are considered as expatriates and have to pay for medical and education services as well as other government fees, while children of Bahraini men married to foreign women are granted Bahraini nationality and treated as citizens, so the proposal is an effort to give Bahraini mothers and their children some justice.
Bosoundel said that the Ministry of Education supported the proposal and stated that the state-run University of Bahrain treats those children as Bahrainis, but does not include them in the fee exception scheme that cover needy students. According to the Bahrain Women Development Association, Bahrain has 2,000 families of Bahraini mothers and foreign fathers.
