He made this announcement at the ministry headquarters on Tuesday while presenting accreditation from the Central Board of Accreditation for Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) to 21 hospitals in the Kingdom.
The minister urged health institutions to keep pace with the latest technological advancements in the field so patients were served in the safest way possible.
Besides developing health-care services in the Kingdom, Al-Rabeeah said the ministry wants to ensure the implementation of principles such as quality, evaluation, accountability and transparency in all its services.
“We are also coordinating with international bodies in the United States and Canada to gain global accreditation for some of our institutions, facilities and services.”
He pointed out that gaining accreditation was a starting point for the continuous work and great effort to maintain the level of these standards.
The 21 government hospitals chosen for CBAHI accreditation were assessed according to a number of international standards in 22 domains, including health systems and services, the minister said.
He noted that the Dammam-based King Fahd Specialist Hospital and Babtain Heart Center had been awarded the American Joint Commission International (JCI) Certificate.
Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khaled Al-Mirghalani said that such certificates are considered the first step in providing unique health services to citizens and residents.
Al-Mirghalani pointed out that the ministry has developed an integrated health-care national project based on a comprehensive scientific study, where patients and health facilities are considered the No. 1 priority.
He added that the minister has ordered the implementation of this comprehensive plan immediately in all of the ministry's health facilities.
Nine major hospitals will be assessed according to JCI standards during the coming year and 61 hospitals will be listed under a second group to be accredited by CBAHI a year from now.
Al-Mirghalani said such procedures are part of a strategy for the ministry, where all employees and medical equipment are provided. He also encouraged hospital managers to do their best in implementing medical rules and regulations in all departments.
Hospitals awarded the CBAHI certificates included Hera Hospital in Makkah, King Fahd Hospital in Baha, Asir Central Hospital, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital in Taif, King Fahd Hospital in Najran, King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah, King Abdulaziz Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, King Saud Medical Compound in Riyadh, Saud Al-Babtain Medical Center, King Saud Hospital in Qassim, King Fahd Hospital in Hofuf, Iman General Hospital in Riyadh, the Children’s Hospital in Dammam, King Khaled Hospital in Hail, the Birth and Child Hospital in Jeddah, Al-Yamamah Hospital in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz Hospital in Makkah, King Fahd Central Hospital in Jazan, King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Qassim, Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Hospital in Riyadh and Khamis Mushayt General Hospital.
