“The decision was taken at the fourth meeting of the Health Services Council held at its headquarters on Sunday night presided over by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah,” said Al-Mazrou.
The meeting, which was held to plan a national health strategy, was attended by 40 officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning and Economy.
“While banning soft drinks we want to introduce fresh juices or dairy products as alternatives,” he said. Al-Mazrou, who is also the secretary-general of the Health Services Council, said he would seek the expertise of the Ministry of Education, which has already successfully imposed a similar ban in schools.
The council is also working out a mechanism to create rapport with the Saudi Red Crescent Society to ensure that injured people are taken to the closest hospitals.
It also decided to set up operation theaters for emergency cases. “The first such facility will be opened in Riyadh soon and the service will be extended to other major cities in the Kingdom,” said the deputy minister.
The Shoura Council recently recommended the establishment of the Supreme Health Services Council that would be headed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. Mohammad Al-Ghamdi, the Shoura Council’s secretary-general, said that the establishment of such a council would lead to enhancing health facilities and services across the Kingdom. The decision to build the council was approved with a majority of votes.
He added that the council would also have representatives from the Ministry of Education to coordinate between the two bodies. He also recalled that the Council of Ministers had earlier taken a decision to set up a supreme body to supervise health activities throughout the Kingdom.
