JEDDAH, 28 March 2004 — A 300-bed private hospital with several specialty units is due for completion here in mid-2005. The International Medical Center’s mission is to take a holistic approach to healing, according to its CEO.
Dr. Walid Fitaihi, who is also the chairman of the board of directors, said the emphasis was less on size than on changing the approach hospitals take to their patients.
“It’s not the largest private hospital in the Middle East and we don’t intend it to be. We think of ourselves as a paradigm shift in health care delivery in terms of standards,” said Dr. Fitaihi.
“We felt that there is so much dissatisfaction from the patients’ side; they are not getting high-quality health care nor what they are paying for.”
Dr. Fitaihi began to develop the concept for the International Medical Center and its holistic approach to healing seven years ago. After several in-depth studies, the project finally got under way.
“We want it to be a place that people know, trust, and feel comfortable in as patients,” he said. “This is why it was decided that the International Medical Center would look for a partner. After several negotiations, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) was chosen because of its history, ethics and its world leadership in all specialties of medicine, especially heart surgery.”
The partnership includes know-how, policy, procedures, expertise, training, telemedicine, referrals, and second opinions. “Another advantage of working with the foundation is that qualified physicians who had their training in the US can become clinical affiliates for CCF and can apply for research grants there under the partnerships’ umbrella,” Dr. Fitaihi added.
CCF thus becomes the first foreign hospital allowed to own shares as an equity holder in Saudi Arabia.
Besides Fitaihi Company and the CCF, the investors include several prominent Saudi business groups.
CCF Chairman Dr. Floyd Loop attends IMC board meetings.
“All the investors know what it means to add value to society, so their main objective is not to maximize profits but to be proud of their investment,” Dr. Fitaihi said.
Ten percent of the net profit will go back to the employees of the hospital, “so we’re investing in our people,” he added.
The hospital will have energy-saving technology and its own water treatment system allowing 40 percent of water to be reused within the hospital grounds.
With a capital of SR350 million, the facility will include a pharmacy, rehabilitation center, health clubs, an auditorium, learning centers for patient use, and a cafeteria. There are three “centers of excellence”: Diabetes treatment and management, women’s health, and pediatrics.
“There is a great need for a diabetes center because of the prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom — it’s only six percent in US and more than 20 percent here,” he said.
Women’s health is a focus because “women are important to society and need improved care.” The pediatric center is a logical response to the baby boom — 70 percent of the population is under 17.
There are also other support specialties such as orthopedic surgery, pain clinics, and general surgery.
The hospital is in the process of receiving its quality accreditation from the Joint Commission International, conforming to American and international standards. “It is one of the few hospitals in the region that involved the commission from the start, even in the construction,” said Majdah Shugdar, director of total quality management.
The hospital intends to take up the challenge of Saudization. Dr. Fitaihi blames the slow pace so far on “bad education, no training and not enough industry and economy to absorb employees.”
But he stressed Saudi women in particular “are very goal-oriented and accomplished, adding to the potential value and success of the job market.”
The center has started a Saudi Training Program, a non-profit institution for training Saudi nurses, in conjunction with other hospitals.
Dr. Fitaihi has no objection to a proposal by the Ministry of Health to set a price ceiling for private hospitals — provided it is studied carefully and implemented correctly. His only concern is if the government starts fixing prices, high-quality health providers may not be able to compete. “We will not compromise the quality of our health care; we will have physicians who are highly paid; we will do things right and we will not abuse our patients. It must be studied carefully otherwise you might be dragging down the quality of health care,” he said.
