Ministry eyes more land to improve KSA health

The Health Ministry needs space for 267 projects, but is not getting enough land to carry our its targets, Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said yesterday.
“We have knocked at all doors to solve this problem. We are facing the challenge of land,” he said.
Speaking to Sabq.org, he said the ministry could not implement many projects due to nonavailability of suitable land with electricity, water, telephone and road services and efficient contractors.
He said that his ministry built 60 hospitals during the last four years.
“Our health services cover 60 percent of the Kingdom’s population while the rest is taken care of by other government departments and private hospitals,” he said.
Al-Rabeeah said the Saudi health system is the best in the Arab world.
“Many people in neighboring countries come here for treatment as they prefer Saudi Arabia instead of European countries for health services,” he added.
According to him, within seven years the Kingdom would be able to solve 90 percent of shortage in hospital beds.
Asked about the case of the Saudi girl, Riham, whether she was tested positive for AIDS, the minister said only doctors at King Faisal Specialist Hospital can give a correct answer. “She was transferred to that hospital on the request of her family,” he said.