RIYADH, 17 March 2005 — Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday approved plans to transform the academy of health sciences at King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Riyadh into a full-fledged university of health to be named after King Saud.
This was announced by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, director general of health affairs at the National Guard, during the inauguration by the crown prince of a number of health projects at the medical city.
Prince Abdullah also approved the establishment of a housing facility for poor patients and their relatives within the medical city by the Prince Abdullah Foundation for Housing.
The crown prince laid the foundation stone of three major projects in the medical city — the college of medicine, expansion of the cardiology center and a casualty center. He also opened the oncology center, dialysis unit and neonatal ward that have been upgraded with more beds and modern facilities.
While dedicating the projects, Prince Abdullah remembered the founder of Saudi Arabia. “When I lay the foundation of these development projects, I remember that the original stone was the one laid by King Abdul Aziz, the stone that united the people of Saudi Arabia and made them vigilant and knowledgeable citizens,” the crown prince said.
The total cost of the new projects is estimated at SR230 million, said Dr. Al-Rabeeah, adding that they were designed to meet the increasing demand for treatment in diabetes, maternity, pediatrics, oncology and cardiology.
He added that the advanced facilities and services would enable the hospital to offer a wide range of services.
“We are proud that the National Guard Heath Affairs (NGHA) is one of the prominent organizations in the Kingdom’s heath care,” he told Arab News.
The NGHA has 48 health centers and satellite clinics and 45 ambulances and four major hospitals in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Al-Ahsa. With the opening of the new facilities, the number of beds at the NGHA has been increased to 1,000 from 850.
“The NGHA does not stop at the structural and infrastructural levels, but continues to concentrate on very important programs dealing with human development,” he said.
Medical, paramedical and allied health training and education have been given priority in order to develop qualified Saudi professionals, who will give the health sector both stability and continuous care, he said.
The new college of medicine will accommodate 200 students during the next five years. Three months ago, 30 Saudi students were enrolled for the medical course.
The new renal dialysis center will have 38 dialysis units instead of 16 and the neonatal center will have 40 beds.
The clinical information system which was commissioned by the crown prince will facilitate the hospital staff to automate its records as well as to simplify procedures and offer quality services to the patients.
