RIYADH: The government wants to privatize centers for the disabled and the elderly. The move aims at providing better community services. Attending a workshop entitled “Privatization of Community Services” held at the Kingdom Hall here, Social Affairs Minister Dr. Yousuf Al-Othaimeen said the government is keen on utilizing the private sector and charity organizations to provide better community services to the citizens.
In addition to making use of in-house expertise, ministry officials are seeking the help of specialists from outside to work on the privatization strategy. The ministry previously issued permits to the private sector to open day-care centers for the disabled. “The number of private sector day-care centers operating today exceeds 50,” said the minister.
“The government remains obliged to provide services to citizens despite its attempt to privatize community services,” he said.
As the first step, the ministry aims at privatizing rehabilitation and career qualification centers for the disabled and also homes for the elderly. Other community services are expected to follow.
By holding the workshop, the ministry aims at setting the basic guidelines needed to achieve its goal. “It will be carried out in stages,” said Fahd Al-Badi, adviser to the minister. “Step one is to introduce the strategy,” he said.
He added that after Haj the ministry would launch a program to privatize the disabled community service centers.
“The (ministry’s) goal is not to get financial gain. However, the private sector can provide the services and we know that there is a market demand for such services,” he said.
There are permits for day-care centers for the disabled but rehabilitation centers where patients stay for a long time do not exist, he said.
The ministry will play a supervisory role in the privatization of the centers, he added. “In my opinion, by playing a supervisory role and handing the operation to a third party, better services can be achieved,” he said.
He added that the main beneficiary would be the community.
