Kingdom sets standards in health care services

The Ministry of Health gives its utmost priority to provide the best health care services throughout the Kingdom making use of the latest technology in the sector.
The health care policy of the Kingdom has been designed according to the vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who once said: “Nothing is more important than the health of the people.”
This year, the Kingdom under the guidance of King Abdullah, allocated SR54.35 billion, which is 15.45 percent more than that of 2011.
The enhanced allocation in the annual budget would enable the ministry to construct more medical cities, hospitals and primary health care centers across the country.
King Abdullah, who signed the budget, disclosed plans to establish five new medical cities and 19 new hospitals.
The ministry would set aside SR25.2 billion for salaries and SR16.39 billion for operation, cleaning and maintenance contracts.
It has also allocated SR7.76 billion for medicine, training and catering, and SR5 billion for new development project.
This current budget includes opening of 155 primary health care centers in all parts of the Kingdom. The ministry has plans to increase the number of the centers to 2,750 from the existing 2,286 centers
One of the most important features of this year’s plan is the self operation of 20 new hospitals, which have been already provided with necessary medical equipment and furniture.
The ministry’s long-term plan is to build 138 hospitals with 34,800 beds to cater to the increasing local population.
The new budget has made allocations for a 200-bed Al-Ansar Hospital in Madinah, a 500-bed mental hospital in Makkah, a 200-bed mental hospital in Baha, a 200-bed maternity and children’s hospital in Gurayat and a 200-bed medical tower in Dammam.
At present 12 mental hospitals and 17 maternity and children’s hospitals are being planned in various regions of the Kingdom.
The ministry plans to establish a medical tower for accidents and emergency at Dammam Medical Tower, an outpatient clinics tower at Qatif Central Hospital, and an emergency medical tower at Prince Abdul Aziz Hospital in Arar.
Three tumor centers in Jazan, Hail and Al-Ahsa, each with a capacity of 100 beds, three cardiac centers in Jazan, Tabuk and Taif and six dental centers in Makkah, Al-Ahsa, Taif, Qatif, Al-Kharj and Samita with a total of 430 dental clinics .
Currently, there are five tumor centers and nine cardiac centers under the ministry.
Recently, four new dental centers in Dammam, Madinah, Al-Jouf and Najran were commissioned , while three dental centers are under construction in Tabuk, Qassim and Baha,” the minister said.
In October last year, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah inaugurated 420 health projects and laid foundation stones for 127 other health facilities worth SR12 billion.
The newly opened projects comprised 29 hospitals and health facilities and 391 primary health care centers, the minister said.
The king also laid the foundation stones for two medical cities in the northern and southern regions, projects in three medical cities, a specialist hospital, seven public hospitals, two medical towers, 73 digitized operation theaters and 111 primary health care centers, the minister said.
With these new additions, the number of hospitals commissioned by the ministry over the last three years reached 54 and primary health care units 645.
The ministry is currently constructing 122 hospitals and medical towers, 305 primary health care units and is planning to install double beds in its hospitals in the next seven years.
“Our ministry will keep improving our health services in the country by enhancing the quality of services at medical facilities, introducing new patient service programs and developing home medicine project, preventive medicine, emergency services and clinical referral services,” Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who introduced the Patients First Program in the ministry, said.
He was speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Second Conference on Mass Gathering Medicine which he inaugurated at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh.
He added that his ministry has drawn up a strategic national health plan to offer comprehensive health care services to the people in the Kingdom.
Thanking the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, Al-Rabeeah said that their unstinted cooperation is a great boost to improve the health care services of the Kingdom.
He recalled that his ministry introduced the ‘Patients First’ program and has embarked on a national health care program to cover people in every nook and corner of the Kingdom.
The minister said the MOH has plans to conduct a one-year diploma course on Mass Gathering Medicine and MERS corona virus for GCC citizens and others from friendly countries.
“We conducted a one-year pilot program for a group of 10 young Saudis and it was found successful,” Al-Rabeeah said.
“Now we want to extend the services to the GCC countries and to some friendly countries to enable their people to get the proper training on mass gathering medicine and on treating corona virus patients.
Al-Rabeeah assured Haj pilgrims that this year would be a MERS coronavirus free pilgrimage due to adequate preventive measures taken against the virus and other infectious diseases.
So far, he said the Kingdom has already received some 200,000 pilgrims and they are all safe and healthy.
This year, the authorities have requested elders, who have chronic diseases to postpone their pilgrimage for next year. MERS corona virus has mostly affected the elders who have chronic ailments such as renal, cardiac diseases and diabetes.
Corona virus has rendered 107 victims including 49 deaths in the Kingdom since last year.
The minister recalled that during the Umrah season concluded recently, there was not a single case of corona virus.
“So was the Haj last year,” he added.
“As most of you are aware, Haj is one of the most important pillars of the Muslim faith,” he said.
“Each year, several million pilgrims make their way from every corner of the globe to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to undertake this most sacred obligation. As the host nation, it is our responsibility to see that our guests are given the highest possible standard of care and protection as they make this sacred journey,” the minister said.
He said: “Saudi Arabia has gained respect and recognition from many international and organizations for its dedication to promote safety and wellbeing of both Haj and Umrah pilgrims.”
The Home Healthcare Program (HHP) has exceeded 20,000 patients ever since it was introduced in April 2010.
This is a program where health care services are offered at the doorstep of the patients, who cannot travel to medical clinics for their treatment.
Around 32 percent of the patients covered under the program suffer from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac and renal diseases.
Twenty percent are Alzheimer’s and psychiatric patients, 13 percent paralytics,10 percent suffer from diabetic foot diseases and 2 percent from malignant diseases. Al-Rabeeah, has allocated a fleet of 80 vehicles to help health officials visit homes regularly to monitor the health of patients covered under the program.
From time to time, the ministry organizes seasonal health awareness programs to cater to the health needs of the people.
During the holy month of Ramadan and Haj , the health education department of the ministry, organizes Hello Ramadan and Guests of Allah programs respectively.
When the school students started their new academic year early this month, the ministry launched a massive health awareness campaign among students, parents and teachers today.
The program, dubbed “My health, My School,” was to educate all members of the society in various segments on a variety of health issues that need relevant ideas and clarifications.
People can call the toll free number 8002494444 during office hours and get clarifications on any issues related to school health and their school-going children.
The ministry has laid out a comprehensive plan for the millions of Haj pilgrims coming to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
It has its officials at all entry points to carry out quarantine work as well as to assist the incoming pilgrims, who need health assistance.
There are 25 hospitals in the holy cities, which include seven in Makkah, nine in Madinah, four in Mina, four in Arafat and the King Abdullah Medical City.
There are 5,250 beds, including 500 ICU beds.
The ministry has stored 16,000 units of blood to treat patients in these hospitals.