Minister of Health Dr. Ibrahim Al-Baddour confirmed that the Ministry of Health will reduce the accumulated waiting list for mammogram (breast imaging) examinations within a period not exceeding three weeks, as part of a comprehensive operational plan aimed at accelerating radiological screening procedures and improving the quality of services provided to women.
اضافة اعلان
Dr. Al-Baddour explained that the plan was developed in response to a significant backlog in the number of women awaiting examinations, with waiting times in some cases reaching around 12 months or more. This created substantial operational pressure on major hospitals and led to delays in imaging for certain cases.
He noted that a review of the current situation showed that the number of mammogram cases at Al-Bashir Hospital alone reaches approximately 180 cases per month, with an overall backlog of nearly 2,500 cases on waiting lists. He added that a large portion of this backlog was due to routine screening cases that could have been handled at other facilities equipped with mammogram machines.
The Minister of Health stated that the plan is based on distributing services across three main sites: Al-Bashir Hospitals for diagnostic and medical follow-up cases, and Dr. Jameel Al-Toutanji Hospital and the Comprehensive Amman Health Center for routine screening cases. He stressed that peripheral hospitals do not suffer from significant delays in this area.
He added that the appointment and referral process has been reorganized and cases classified accordingly. Daily referrals have begun to Dr. Jameel Al-Toutanji Hospital and the Comprehensive Amman Health Center, with reliance on a unified national reading center for image interpretation and the purchase of radiology specialist services when needed.
Dr. Al-Baddour indicated that women whose appointments have been delayed will be contacted to reschedule new appointments. He also invited those with delayed appointments to call 0789655009 between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to bring their appointments forward.
He emphasized that priority at Al-Bashir Hospitals will be given to diagnostic cases and those with high clinical suspicion, while routine screening cases will be received at accredited health centers for initial screening.
The Minister concluded that the plan will contribute to completing mammogram imaging within a short period, effectively reducing the backlog and accelerating the diagnosis of cases requiring biopsies. He considered the issue to be practically resolved once future appointments are regularized and the sustainability of the service is ensured with fairness and efficiency.
