Food poisoning hits over 200 Jeddawis in a month

Jeddah hospitals received more than 200 cases of food poisoning last month, according to Sami Badawood, director of health in Jeddah.
He told Arab News that all cases were treated promptly, either through the Emergency Departments or as outpatient cases.
Badawood pointed out the Health Ministry directive issued recently and sent to all public and private hospitals in Jeddah states that all cases of poisoning must be dealt with immediately and without negligence.
He said that the Health Directorate in Jeddah has a special team for follow-up and any food poisoning cases are admitted urgently. He said a special form is filled out when a patient is admitted to hospital and a specialist is assigned to take care of the case.
Badawood added that in the event of late treatment, negligence or even medical wrongdoing, there is a Health Violation Committee in the Jeddah Health Directorate that follows up on health establishments and medical errors with official powers to impose fines ranging from SR 5000 down to SR 50,000 depending on the nature of the violation.