Since 2020, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) has monitored the illegal practice of retaining personal identification documents by Jordanian hospitals as collateral for unpaid medical fees. This practice disproportionately has impacted refugees and low-income Jordanians, denying them access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and employment. Through extensive fieldwork, ARDD documented over 565 cases across northern, central, and southern Jordan, revealing violations of national and international laws protecting individuals' identity and healthcare.

ARDD’ advocacy efforts culminated in a landmark achievement with the issuance of Circular No. 748 by the Ministry of Health in January 2022. The circular prohibits hospitals from withholding identification documents and provides clear legal mechanisms for addressing financial claims, such as payment installments. This milestone reflects effective collaboration between civil society and governmental institutions, ensuring protection for Jordanian and non-Jordanian patients while reinforcing the rule of law.

ARDD continued monitoring compliance with the circular and advocated for its adoption. These efforts culminated once again in another achievement, represented by the issuing a subsequent circular from the Ministry of Health No. (6781/of 2024) dated August 12, 2024, confirming the first circular and emphasizing adherence to what was stated therein. This report serves as a continuation of the initial publication released in  2022, which documented the challenges and outlined recommended efforts. While the first report concluded with a call for active monitoring and advocacy to safeguard patients’ rights, this follow-up report details the actions and progress achieved since then. Together, these two documents provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced and the successes realized in addressing them.