JEDDAH: Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has activated the role of the Friends of Patients committees across the country by allowing them to provide moral and material support to poor patients, especially those who suffer from chronic diseases.
The minister gave his directive during a meeting with the officials of the chambers of commerce and industry. The meeting was held to rejuvenate the Friends of Patients committees that operate under the supervision of the chambers.
Mustafa Sabri, secretary-general of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said the minister discussed with them new mechanisms to improve the committees’ performance. “Friends of Patients committees will have a greater role in the coming phase in providing assistance to poor patients with the help of businessmen and private sector companies,” he said.
The private sector contributes more than SR300 million to support patients through 24 committees in different provinces of the Kingdom. “These committees receive considerable support from businessmen,” Sabri said.
Some businessmen donated dialysis equipment while others funded buildings for dialysis units. “The new phase will witness greater cooperation between these committees and other charitable organizations, especially those with similar objectives,” Sabri said.
He added that the meeting sought to define the objectives of the committees and also discussed a bylaw for them. According to the law, the director general of health in the province will chair the committee.
The meeting also called for the committees to hold regular meetings to expand and organize their humanitarian activities.
