MINA, 9 January 2006 — A study to implement compulsory Umrah health insurance is now under serious consideration by the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance and the Ministry of Health, said Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie yesterday.

The minister said that the burden on Saudi government for medical care has grown bigger, especially after the opening of the Umrah year round.

“Umrah performers are expected to reach one million each month. With this increase, the ministry’s yearly dispatch of medication would be deployed in a month,” he said, adding that it is important now for Umrah performers to add medical cost among their Umrah general costs.

The minister was speaking to the press during his inspection tour at the Mina General Hospital yesterday morning.

The minister also addressed last week’s hotel collapse in Makkah, saying that the 62 injured victims are all expected to pull through.

“(Injured) victims mainly suffered from fractures, bruises and minor wounds,” he said, saying they should all be released from hospital within the week.

The minister said the response by emergency rescue teams should have been more organized in order to avoid the bottlenecks created by a massive rush to the scene of the accident.

The minister announced that the Mina General Hospital would be razed and a newer one would go up in its place. The project would begin soon after Haj, Manie said. The minister said the new hospital would be ready for next year’s Haj season.

For the rest of the Kingdom, the minister said the new budget, which has the largest surplus in Saudi history, includes plans to build 50 new hospitals and 2,000 other primary care centers within the next five years, including three new hospitals for Jeddah.

This project aims to eliminate the need for the Ministry of Health to rent buildings for its primary care centers. SR6.5 billion has been set aside for the ministry-owned health centers. The aim is to have at least one specialist hospital and a main health center in each of the Kingdom’s cities in order to reduce the need for patients to travel far to see a doctor and receive treatment.

Regarding the health of Hajis, the minister re-emphasized that all measures have been taken to reduce the chances of an outbreak of contagious diseases among the pilgrims, including spraying 31 locations in and around Makkah to reduce mosquitoes, the primary vector for the spread of viral meningitis.

“The general health in Mina and the holy sites is excellent and disease free,” the minister said. “Pilgrims will receive all the medical care they need during their pilgrimage,” the minister said adding, “Our health efforts were highly acknowledged by the World Health Organization and various health ministers worldwide.”

Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for all able-bodied Muslims with the means for the journey. But many pilgrims come despite their poor health and brave the perils. Some even cherish the opportunity to die during their pilgrimage, perceiving it as an opportunity for martyrdom.

About the lack of Saudi female health care professionals in the holy sites, the minister said, “We are now preparing the ministry’s facilities in the holy sites so that it would be suitable for females to work and stay during the Haj season.”

Starting next year, there would be a big attendance of Saudi females in various health sectors in the holy sites, he said.

“The demand this year was overwhelming, as many ladies protested to the ministry for not choosing them among this year’s Haj medical teams.”