Most patients prefer private clinics and hospitals because in their view they get a good service at reception counters followed by easy access to doctors.

Government hospitals, according to them, are neglected and patients have to wait a long time even for a simple service. Excellent doctors and nurses are available under one roof in private hospitals, which also offer well-coordinated services.

Saad Al-Qarni, an Islamic studies teacher at a secondary school in Taif, said he preferred private hospitals for many reasons. “The most important reason is that the staff there are far better than the staff in government hospitals, including military hospitals. My first choice is always a private hospital,” he told Arab News. He added that in advanced countries governments give the highest priority to health care. He blamed Saudi officials and hospital staff for the poor service in government hospitals. “It is true that our government gives very high importance to health, but the problem is with the officials,” he said.

Muhammad Al-Otaibi, a patient who regularly visits private hospitals, spoke of his disappointing experience in a government hospital. “One day I took my wife to a large government hospital in Taif. A consultant doctor asked me to get an MRI scan report to diagnose her complaint,” he said. “When I asked for the way to the MRI department he said they didn’t have the facilities and told me to go to a private hospital. Government doctors also make us wait long for an appointment. I don’t know why they do it. Is it because they want to avoid treating patients?”

Private hospitals are expensive. There are people who cannot afford even consultation fees in these facilities. Still, many people go to such hospitals and fund their visits by saving up or borrowing money. “Although I don’t have the money to pay the high fees at a private hospital or clinic, I have no doubt that they are the best in the city. They are equipped with advanced medical equipment and excellent doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators,” said 54-year-old Sultan Al-Dalbahi.

He added that if any doctor in the private sector commits errors he would be punished, deported and replaced with a better doctor.

He also claimed that government hospitals in Taif, apart from military ones, do not have sufficient equipment to carry out medical analyses. All advanced tests have to be done at private laboratories, he said.

He also blamed the Ministry of Health for not implementing government plans to offer the best medical health services to the people.

Abdullah Al-Khamash, a school principal, has a different view. He believes that government hospitals are better than private ones in many ways. His only complaint was the lack of public dental care facilities in Taif.

The only dental clinic in the city was crowded and visitors have to wait five months for an appointment, he said.

Muhammad Al-Saeed, a civil aviation employee, said he was reluctant to go to a government hospital or clinic because he claimed doctors were unskilled, reception staff were rude, administration took too long and medical supplies were in short supply.

On the other hand, spokesman of the health directorate in Taif Saeed Al-Zahrani dismissed the allegations and told Arab News: “In fact, the government hospitals in Taif are under heavy pressure because of the influx of patients seeking their services. If the patients had any substantial complaints they would not have come to our hospital in such huge numbers and that too from distant places.”