AKEED, Wasfi Khushman

Amman, AKEED -- On Monday, 20 February 2017, several news websites carried a photo of an official letter sent by the minister of health to the director of a private hospital, asking him to provide medical services to MPs and their families provided that expenses would be covered by 100% from the Health Insurance Fund. The headlines were as follows:

Health Insurance for MPs and Their Families by 100% (Document)

Health Insurance for MPs and Their Parents by 100%

Comprehensive Health Insurance by 100% for MPs and Their Families at Expense of Health Insurance Fund (Document)

Comprehensive Health Insurance for MPs and Their Parents by 100%

Health Insurance for MPs and Their Families by 100% (Document)

As usual, social media sites were flooded with accusations against the legislative and executive authorities. Meanwhile, news websites carried a photo of the official letter as a document and a scoop despite the fact that MPs are covered by health insurance according to the Civil Health Insurance Regulation and its Amendments No. 83 of 2004, which mentions in Article 26 the groups that are covered, including the members of the Lower House of Parliament and Upper House of Parliament. 

The Jordanian Media Credibility Monitor (AKEED) observed that the news published about this topic did not specify the location of the hospital in question and was satisfied with publishing the "document" and commenting on it. By checking the website of the Companies Control Department and inquiring about Al Salam Hospital, AKEED found out that there is one hospital carrying the name of Al Salam Specialty Hospital, which is located in Kerak.

AKEED called Dr. Abdel Wahhab Tarawneh, director of the hospital, who confirmed that his hospital always receives deputies, senators, ministers, and all other groups that have health insurance, as stipulated by the law. He deplored the publication of an official letter and presenting it as a "secret document," saying that "any official letter we receive from the Ministry of Health is posted in a prominent place so that visitors can see it. We have nothing to be ashamed of."

The director of Al Salam Hospital said that most probably, an "angry" visitor took a picture of the official letter posted on the bulletin board at the hospital and sent it to a news website, which published it without checking the details of the story. The photo of the official letter that was carried by websites shows that it is pinned by a magnet at the top.

The reply of the General Secretariat of the Lower House of Parliament was quick. It stressed in a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency (Petra) and reported by newspapers and electronic sites that there was nothing new concerning the health insurance of deputies, who receive the same treatment as senators and ministers, without referring to what was reported on news websites or social media platforms. Other sites did some follow-up on the statement.

The AKEED Monitor has observed a number of professional violations in the way news websites covered the story, such as distorting facts due to lack of information, depending on anonymous sources, not giving the other party a chance to reply, and not providing background information.