RIYADH: A Saudi company plans to set up a major drug rehabilitation center in partnership with one of the oldest addiction centers in America.
The Saudi Care Co. has begun discussions with Brighton Hospital, part of the St. John Health System network of health service providers in the US, to manage the 250-bed facility once it is built in Riyadh.
“Brighton Hospital, founded 60 years ago, was chosen by us after a nine-month international search. We considered several other larger and more well-known addiction treatment hospitals in the US, Asia and Europe,” said CEO of Saudi Care Mohammed Al-Turaiki.
Al-Turaiki, who is also the president of the Islamic World Council on Disability and Rehabilitation, said Brighton Hospital was chosen to manage the SR225 million health-care project due to its expertise and high success rate among other factors.
He claimed the number of Saudi and Muslim addicts has tripled over the last few years.
“It has become a serious problem,” said Al-Turaiki, adding that the new facility would serve patients from the Islamic world, not just from Saudi Arabia.
Al-Turaiki said construction on the 291,000 square foot Saudi Care Brighton Hospital is expected to begin soon. Regional addiction and mental health clinics outside of Riyadh are also being considered for development, he added.
According to the head of the Psychological Health Department in Taif, Rajab Brisali, between 60 to 70 percent of serious crimes committed in Saudi Arabia are linked to drug addition.
