THIS letter is for you, Dr. Osama Shubokshi, as a human being, as a physician and as a government minister. People all over the country speak of your dedication, honesty, humbleness and responsiveness to the needy and I agree with them. When you were named to the post of minister of health, I was very happy as I felt that you were the right man for the job.
After you took up the job, I have tried a number of times to bring to your attention the deteriorating situation in government hospitals and generally in the field of public health. The list of problems and shortcomings is endless but bear with me while I enumerate a few.
A severe shortage of medical supplies, low standards of hygiene and cleaning services and poor management. Patients complain of having to buy their own medical supplies when they often lack money. There are increasing reports of medical errors in both private and public hospitals. There are reported and unreported cases of deaths and partial disabilities due to medical negligence. In addition there is also inadequate compensation paid to victims of medical errors. For instance, can it be logical that a compensation of SR10,000 is sufficient for a woman whose womb was damaged by medical error? This is only one example but I am sure that you are aware of others committed by doctors all over the Kingdom.
The following stories were reported in Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper over a period of only 10 days:
— Cancellation of a doctor’s contract because he wrote a prescription on a piece of paper torn from a bag of cement.
— Stopping a doctor from practicing after he caused the death of an unborn child.
— Three physicians being investigated for negligence that caused a girl’s death.
— A doctor accused of a causing a patient’s death during Eid.
In addition to those stories, Al-Bilad newspaper reported that a woman died after being admitted to a hospital complaining of a knee problem!
It is frightening to learn of so many medical errors. It would be even more frightening to learn the causes of the errors. Whatever the causes, the public cannot feel confident about going to hospitals. Medical errors and deficiencies are not unusual in prominent government and private hospitals located in major cities. I can only imagine what the situation will be in small hospitals or clinics in rural areas.
It is well-known that some hospitals, medical centers and clinics in both urban and rural areas lack ambulances and are short of trained personnel and medical supplies.
A few days ago I received an e-mail from a citizen whose seven-year-old daughter had died at Ohud Hospital in Madinah. The cause of her death, as he claims, was due to ambulance delay followed by wrong diagnosis. The distraught father begged me to write about this in order to bring it to the attention of officials.
Is it not time careless consultants, irresponsible doctors and money-hungry hospitals were held accountable for their errors and mistakes?
As the existing punishments and penalties provide no deterrent, stronger ones should be devised and enforced immediately.