The city of Al-Kharj in the Najran region has been host to the National Dialogue on “Health Services: Dialogue Between Society and Health Institutions,” which is being attended by 70 men and women.
Discussions have been taking place between officials and members of the public regarding the Kingdom’s health care services, and ways to develop the sector across the Kingdom.
Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said this national dialogue is an important one. “The positive interaction between the Ministry of Health and members of the public and the results, visions and opinions that have been drawn from it will contribute greatly to developing the Kingdom’s health-care services,” he said.
Al-Rabeeah said the Ministry of Health has a specific strategy to develop the existing health system into an all-inclusive and complete health-care system with specialized services across the Kingdom.
Faisal bin Moammar, secretary-general of the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue, said the event has discussed issues of public concern and involved various sections of society. Participants had been selected through five preparatory meetings held in a number of provinces.
The dialogue aims to expand and resume the culture of dialogue in society, and get to know people’s opinions on the reality of health services; the necessary legislation, technology and manpower to improve them; and how improvements can meet current and future plans.
Bin Moammar revealed that a number of conclusions have been drawn from the preparatory meeting. These include the need to eliminate administrative obstacles hindering the development of the Kingdom’s health-care sector, spreading an understanding of family physicians, providing essential training to health-care cadres, and developing a complete database of organizations that provide health care to their employees to avoid duplicating services.
Al-Moammar also said the meeting was specially held to “hear the views of citizens and to avoid shortcomings and negativities which harm people’s lives.”
