Bahrain health insurance now mandatory for resident workers from 31 October: who is covered and who is not

Bahrain's mandatory health insurance for resident workers starts today, 31 October 2026. The National Health Insurance Programme for Residents was announced by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) chairman, Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, ARY News reported.

Who is covered

Eligible resident workers in Bahrain, in the categories set out in the regulations. In practice this means expatriate workers in the private sector, including the Pakistanis working there.

Cover is tied to issuing and renewing work and residence permits, so it will come up when your permit is next processed.

Who is not

• Domestic workers (drivers, housemaids and other household staff)
• Residents employed by government entities
• Dependants of residents (spouses and children)
• Bahraini citizens, whose healthcare stays as it is

What the basic package covers

• Primary healthcare (clinic visits)
• Secondary healthcare (specialist and hospital care)
• Emergency treatment
• Accident care

Optional packages with more benefits are also available.

What is still not known

The announcement did not give the premium, and did not say whether the employer or the worker pays it. Detailed enrolment steps were also not published. The SCH says further details will come through official channels.

What Pakistani workers in Bahrain should do

1. Ask your employer or sponsor whether your next permit renewal includes the insurance and who pays for it.
2. Keep a copy of your policy or insurance card once issued.
3. If you have family with you, note that dependants are not in this programme; check private cover for them.
4. Watch the SCH's official announcements for the premium and enrolment process before paying anyone who offers to "arrange" cover.

If you send money home, our currency converter shows what a Bahraini dinar is worth in rupees today, and the salary breakdown calculator helps compare a Gulf offer with a job in Pakistan.