jordan pulse -

President of the Jordan Medical Association (JMA), Dr. Issa Ali Al-Khashashneh, addressed an official letter to Minister of Health, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Baddour, announcing an unanimous decision by the JMA Council regarding the implementation of the biometric fingerprint attendance system within the Ministry of Health.
Key decisions and points outlined in the letter include:
Rejection of the Current Biometric System: The JMA confirmed its explicit rejection of enforcing the fingerprint attendance system in its current format on physicians across Ministry of Health hospitals and medical centers. The council noted that the system lacks clear regulatory criteria that accommodate the unique nature of medical work, thereby infringing upon doctors' rights and disrupting clinical operations—particularly within emergency units, night shifts, and departments requiring operational flexibility.
Unique Operational Nature of Medical Work: The association emphasized that physicians cannot be evaluated under standard administrative parameters applied to conventional civil service roles. Medical practice requires continuous patient care, emergency response management, overnight call duty, and unscheduled shifts that frequently require doctors to remain at their posts well beyond official working hours.
Freezing Compliance with the Fingerprint System: Citing prior agreements between the JMA and the Ministry of Health, the JMA Council formally decided during its session held on September 21, 2026, to instruct all doctors in the ministry to halt compliance with the fingerprint system until a clear, mutually agreed-upon framework is established to address shift dynamics and clinical requirements.
Warning Against Administrative Penalties: The JMA revealed receiving numerous complaints from public sector physicians regarding threats of administrative and financial penalties issued over biometric non-compliance. The council stressed that such punitive actions directly breach earlier understandings with the ministry and demand immediate rectification.
Call for Immediate Halt to Disciplinary Actions: While affirming its commitment to professional discipline, workplace performance, and high-quality healthcare delivery, the JMA reiterated that attendance control mechanisms must align with clinical realities, shift rotations, and emergency care. The association concluded by urging the Minister of Health to issue immediate directives to suspend all financial and administrative penalties related to the fingerprint system pending a final agreed-upon mechanism.