TAIF, 6 August — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, opened a 500-bed modern specialty hospital here yesterday, built at a cost of SR650 million.

The crown prince stated that the hospital would benefit all Saudis, especially those in Taif.

Health Minister Dr. Osama Shubokshi, who briefed Prince Abdullah on the medical facilities of King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital, said the project included a health college for boys and girls, 25 outpatient clinics, a medical library and a well-equipped laboratory.

The minister described the hospital, the largest in this resort city, as one of the country’s advanced health facilities. Crown Prince Abdullah laid the foundation for the hospital about two years ago. The hospital complex covers an area of 250,000 square meters.

Prince Abdullah inspected the hospital’s advanced medical facilities, including the operation and emergency wards, its kidney center, outpatient clinics, the health college, housing units and support facilities.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Shubokshi highlighted the government’s efforts to provide better health services to citizens and residents in all parts of the Kingdom.

He said the hospital’s emergency ward has 20 beds while its kidney center can treat 20 patients.

There are already 11 hospitals  and 101 health centers in Taif, with a capacity for 350,000 patients.

Shubokshi said the health college can accommodate 1,000 boys and girls, while the housing units would have room for 340 single people and 124 families.

Prince Abdullah, who arrived in Taif on Friday on an inspection tour, also laid the foundation stone for a road project linking Oqbat Al-Muhammadiya in Shafa with Tihama and the Red Sea coast. The road project will cost SR36 million. (See Page 2)

The crown prince will also open a tourist village project in Hada, which includes a cable car described as the largest in the Middle East and a five-star hotel.

Taif, one of the major resort centers in the Kingdom, attracts thousands of tourists from within and outside the country every year.