The assistant director for nonmedical operations at the hospital was accused of appointing his nephew to fill a vacancy at the hospital. There were also allegations that another assistant director for financial and administrative affairs adopted fraudulent means in getting his son and two nephews employment at the hospital.

It was also found that four women employees at the hospital had actually been hired by a contracting company to work at a maternity hospital in Madinah. These employees, who have been working with King Fahd Hospital for nearly seven years, say they were unaware that they were actually recruited for the other hospital.

Jamal Hakeem of the Department of Health Affairs in Madinah confirmed that his department is investigating the alleged scam in the appointment of staff members at the hospital.  “The investigator was presented with a letter from Dr. Khaled Yasin, director of Health Affairs in Madinah, ordering a thorough probe into the issue,” said Hakeem. “A comprehensive report will be handed to the director once the investigation was complete.”

Yasin pledged that all details of the alleged fraudulent practices adopted while hiring employees at the hospital would be uncovered with completion of the probe.

Meanwhile, one of the woman staffers involved in the case, who requested anonymity, said she has been working with the hospital under contract for seven years after concluding a labor contract with a company. “At the end of the period of contract, we applied for regular jobs advertised by the same hospital,” she added.