RIYADH: The Ministry of Health released its 2011 annual report yesterday. Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said his ministry is entrusted with the provision of preventive, acute and rehabilitative health care for the Kingdom’s population. It provides primary health care service through a network of more than 2,000 health care centers.
Al-Rabeeah said their accomplishments were possible with the help of the cooperation extended by both Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, minister of defense and aviation. “With their help, we are able to provide state-of-the-art health care to the people in the Kingdom,” he added.
The annual report includes a report on health indicators, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, health and human resources and the performance of the Ministry of Health, government agencies such as university hospitals and the private sector.
An overview of health care service, health care facilities and a snapshot of service delivery, including admissions, clinical testing, treatment, surgery, and services provided to pilgrims during Haj, are outlined in the report.
By the end of 2011, 251 hospitals and 2,109 primary health care centers with a total of 34,450 beds were staffed by more than 250,000 male and female employees.
The primary health care centers treated 55 million patients, while hospital outpatient clinics treated 11.5 million people. Emergency departments handled 20 million patients.
More than 430,000 surgeries were carried out and 256,000 births registered. Laboratory tests totaled 137 million and X-ray examinations totaled 84 million.
The Ministry of Health employs 69,226 doctors, 1,487 pharmacists, 134,632 nurses and 78,823 medical assistants. The ministry employs 58,197 Saudi employees.
By the end of 2011, 621 primary health care centers were established and planning for a further 706 is under way. The King Khalid Medical City will serve the Eastern Region, the King Faisal Medical City will provide service to the southern region and Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Medical City the northern region.
Specialized hospitals and medical facilities currently providing service include: King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam, and the King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital in Riyadh.
These facilities offer highly specialized world class service including organ-transplantation, oncology and advanced surgery. The King Abdullah Hospital in Makkah is renowned for oncology treatment, open-heart surgery and treatment of retinal disease.
The ministry’s preventive medicine and health awareness program has seen the introduction of five new vaccines to the basic vaccination program for children: staphylococcus, rotavirus, meningitis, chickenpox and hepatitis.
58,197 Saudis work for Health Ministry
