YANBU: The King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue is to hold its fourth preparatory meeting for its Eighth National Intellectual Dialogue, entitled “Health Services, a Dialogue Between Society and Health Institutions,” on Tuesday (Oct. 13).

Dr. Fahd bin Sultan Al-Sultan, deputy secretary-general of the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue, said the center has been promoting dialogue as a way to transparently discuss issues affecting Saudi society.

He added that the fourth preparatory meeting in Yanbu is in preparation of the Eighth National Intellectual Dialogue, which will take place some time in the future in Najran.

Al-Sultan explained that the center seeks to hold preparatory meetings across the Kingdom to promote a culture of dialogue and facilitate the participation of citizens. The center has held eight preparatory meetings so far in Al-Kharj, Khamees Mushait and Qurayat.

He stressed that the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue seeks to boost dialogue in Saudi society and address issues concerning citizens. He added that health services were being discussed to evaluate and study ways of developing health services by taking the views of individuals.

Al-Sultan added that the health sector is an important institute affecting the lives of people and that it is on account of this that the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue decided to hold its eighth meeting on health.

The fourth preparatory meeting will discuss a number of health topics based on four main themes: the reality of health services; religious, social and legislative aspects of the health field; the financing of services; and health and the role of civil society institutions.