Legal counselor Mohammad Hassan Sirwaq, advocate of Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital, said that the ruling to allow an appeal represents a correct judgment to avoid the abuse in gaining benefits. He added that the hospital serves a large segment of Saudi society as confirmed by the latest figures on patients.
"Closing the hospital entails harm and damages to those receiving treatment there," said Sirwaq. He added that the decision from the Ministry of Health to shut the hospital was unfair because it affects hospital workers and patients receiving treatment there.
Sirwaq said the decision of the Court of Appeal to overrule the decision of the Court of Grievances is the first step in the right direction. The Ministry's decision will be halted for its explicit violation to the system of health institutions.
Meanwhile, Dr. Muhammad Erfan, manager of Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital denied a report on some websites that the hospital will open its doors Saturday. "The first hearing of the Administrative Court of the Court of Grievances will be held next Saturday to look into the closure decision by the ministry", said Erfan, explaining that the hospital will open its doors according to regulations.
He pointed out that the list of charges contained the word "harm", which refers to the harm that befell patients and workers because of the closure, and not the word "corruption".
"The hospital administration is bound and committed to all statutory procedures. Until this moment no final ruling has been issued", he said, adding that all patients have left and all sections closed. Some patients were transferred to public hospitals. The court of appeal in Makkah overruled the decision of the Administrative Court against the hospital on the grounds that Dr. Muhammad Erfan filed an objection to void the ministry's decision to close down the hospital in the wake of the death of the boy Salah Al-Deen Yusuf Jameel due to a medical error.
Erfan said that his hospital receives 2,500 patients daily, as well as 20,000 patients with medical insurance, 42,030 patients in the emergency room and 1,491 patients for kidney cleansing.
Erfan hospital welcomes ruling
