They included construction of hospitals, supply of pharmaceutical products and equipment, biomedical engineering projects, hospital supplies and furnishing of newly built hospitals throughout the Kingdom.

Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who signed the agreements at the ministry headquarters in Riyadh with representatives of the contracted companies  pledged that his ministry would sign more such contracts worth SR1.5 billion in the coming weeks.

The contracted projects included, the construction of a 300-bed hospital in Hail and another hospital in Abqaiq with a capacity of 100 beds. Contracts were also signed to establish new and furnish  existing medical warehouses of the ministry that are located in several parts of the Kingdom.

Besides updating the ministry's laboratories located in various health regions, the contracts were also signed for the supply of CT scan machines, pharmaceutical products and medical apparatus needed for some hospitals and primary health care centers in the Kingdom.

Al-Rabeeah described the mass signing ceremony as a great day for the Kingdom since the ministry would be offering enhanced services to the people with the completion of these contracts.

He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his magnanimity to improve the available health care services and set up new facilities in the Kingdom to reach all citizens equally. The minister said that King Abdullah has said: “Nothing is expensive for the health of the Saudi citizens.”

He explained that the royal statement is self-explanatory. “It clearly indicates the commitment of the monarch toward his subjects in the field of health sector.”

Commenting on the new budget, the minister said that new health care projects would be on the pipeline with the new votes.

“We are planning to sign more contracts for health care projects to the tune of another SR1.5 billion to ensure enhanced services in patients care, family management medical program, home medical program and several other programs to ensure the rights of patients and their families.

Al-Rabeeah said in keeping with King Abdullah's vision, the Health Ministry has re-designed its objectives to focus on ' Patients First' services. In deference to the king's wishes, health care services are being taken to the doorstep of the people in all regions. Under his guidance, he said, the ministry has been investing substantial volume of funds for the welfare of the people.

The minister also took the opportunity to thank Chairman of the Shoura Council Dr. Abdullah Al-Asheikh and the council members for the support extended to the Health Ministry to carry out its projects.

He recalled that the chairman and a team of members from the council visited the ministry headquarters recently and discussed several areas where the two bodies could strengthen their cooperation between them.

Former Deputy Minister of Health for Executive Affairs Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sweilem coordinates activities between the ministry and the council.

During the discussions between the Shoura members and senior health ministry officials, it was decided to form a joint committee comprising members from the two bodies to coordinate functions related to each other.

Dr. Salah Al-Mazroa, health adviser to the ministry on Logistics and Capital Equipment, said that the signing ceremony is a major multi-purpose project that offers a wide range of health care activities designed for the people in the Kingdom.

“Under the new projects, 22 new hospitals that were completed recently will be furnished with the state-of-the-art equipment to keep in line with global standards,” he added.