Each of the three hospitals has a capacity of 50 beds. With a simple calculation, we now have 150 hospital beds that are vacant and unexploited.

There is no excuse for these hospitals to remain idle. This is downright humiliating to the citizens, interfering with their lives and ignoring their needs. How is it possible that three general hospitals belonging to the Health Ministry, which were opened last year by Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, are still unused?

A local newspaper recently published a report and photographs of the Balahmar Hospital, which has become a home for monkeys. Some people put up signboards saying that photography was strictly prohibited, as if the hospital was a security establishment. This situation is ongoing while citizens in the southern provinces cross thousands of kilometers looking for medical treatment.

The government allotted funds for development projects and distributed them all over the country, so that we would have equal development in all areas and there would be no disparity between the regions.

However, it is obvious that some people are interested in keeping certain areas developed and others not. Hundreds of millions of riyals have been spent on building, furnishing and equipping hospitals in Asir, which remain closed. The funny thing is that a manager has been appointed for one of these closed hospitals and his services have been extended for a second term.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah said in a Cabinet meeting that there were some development projects which were “lost”. Yes sir, there are projects which are really lost. There are some people who are interested in keeping these projects idle and unused for reasons which we are unaware of.

One of the three hospitals in Asir already needs repair because it has been neglected and remains unused. Animals coming down from the mountains rampage these deserted buildings. Perhaps these hospitals could become health establishments for the treatment of jinn or at best, zoos.

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