• There was talk on social media about the five-day crackdown on counterfeit products by the Ministry of Interior and Interpol. The campaign ‘Shaheen’ was the first of its kind in the Middle East and led to 147 people being referred to authorities for investigation and confiscation of 51,000 electrical and other products. People praised efforts and demanded that the drive continue to protect consumers and free the local market from counterfeits.
• Parents demanded that schools reactivate the educational call service before the third term of examinations to enable students to get support from teachers if they face difficulty while preparing for tests. They said the service will also encourage them not to resort to private tuition.
• Many people praised the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning for its effort to inspect and monitor food outlets. They demanded that the ministry continue efforts and cover all type of eateries in various parts of the country.
• Female teachers transferred from the Ministry of Education to Independent schools on local contracts said the agreements did not provide for annual tickets and urged Supreme Council of Education to provide tickets as done in case of external contracts.
• Some people demanded that authorities increase the number of private hospitals to provide services within the National Health Insurance Scheme. They said the second phase of the scheme begins next month to cover all citizens and will lead to more pressures on existing hospitals which have joined the plan.
• Some people expressed surprise over the increasing cost of treatment at private hospitals and wondered whether the health insurance system has caused it.
• People urged authorities to speed up work on Sealine Road. They said it is used during the camping season but work and diversions there are causing delay to people though the distance is not much.
