Our primary heath centers have always been below standards in everything. Perhaps the only credit one could give them would be with regards to the high standard of buildings from which they operate. Having said that it is interesting to know that 90 percent of such premises are rented.
Four years ago, there was a plan to build 2,500 health centers. The plan still awaits execution. A few have been set up but, sadly, they don’t meet the needs of the general public. This isn’t surprising since administrators claim they don’t have enough funds.
Many health centers operate from premises that were built for residential purposes. These buildings are unsuitable as the corridors tend to be rather narrow and the rooms very few.
Health centers in the Kingdom do not only suffer from problems related to premises but there is also a lack of education and training among health professionals in how to deal with patients.
In winter, these centers operate between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. five days a week. Such opening hours cause a lot of inconvenience to people.
Office workers are left in situations where they cannot visit the centers during work hours. In fact, many employees end up having to leave their workplaces during office hours to go to health centers, definitely causing a lot of inconveniences to their colleagues and members of the public.
In response to the low standard of public hospitals and health centers, the Ministry of Health has opened the door for the establishment of private hospitals and dispensaries.
But would this decision really help the people? Of course, not. Decisions to open private hospitals take the pressure off public hospitals, which would continue operating in a single shift rather than a double shift, as should be the case for regular hospitals and health centers.
The shortage in work for health centers and especially their minimal operating hours in cities where hospitals are available are things that are boosting the private health sector. I wonder if the Ministry of Health is aware of the fact that they are paving the way for the privatization of public hospitals, especially with the implementation of the health insurance system.
I really can’t see why we have to make people who use health centers suffer like this. Health centers are an essential service that must be available, despite its shortcomings, to all people. There is a large group of citizens who go to such places because they can’t afford private hospitals.
The ministry needs to review the status of these health centers in general and focus on their operating hours. I’m sure that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah won’t accept a situation that constricts and makes life difficult for so many people.
