JEDDAH, 2 February — The director of Jeddah’s Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Muhammad Shaoush, has urged the authorities to take immediate action to redress the hospital’s deteriorating condition caused by shortage of doctors and medicines.
Speaking to Arab News, he said the hospital was lacking many basic facilities. There are only seven psychiatrists to take care of more than 120 male and female patients admitted to the hospital, in addition to those who visit its outpatient clinics.
Health Minister Dr. Osama Shubokshi said recently that his ministry was planning to appoint some 21,000 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff within the next five years to offset staff shortage in some hospitals and health centers.
Arab News visited the hospital and found that the building was old, its beds were damaged and there was shortage of general facilities. The worsening condition has prompted its administration to collect donations from philanthropists and staff to buy medicine and special clothes for patients.
Shaoush said the hospital lacked facilities to admit new patients, especially during the Haj season when many mental patients will be shifted to it from Makkah hospitals.
He also pointed out that many people refused to take away their patients from the hospital even after the completion of treatment.
Shaoush said many nurses disappeared for days without giving any reason. The director pointed out that among the 120 male and female nurses, 20 percent were absent daily. "Most of them are graduates of health institutes and not specialized in taking care of mental patients," he stated.
Referring to efforts to improve the hospital’s condition, the director said Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed had set up a committee to study the problems. He stressed the urgent need for a new mental hospital in the city to reduce pressure on the hospital.
The committee has called on businessmen to make donations to the hospital for medical equipment and medicines and the establishment of special centers to take care of mental patients.
