The minister was making the keynote address at the inauguration of the First Patients Relations Symposium at the Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh on Monday.
More than 1,000 attendees, including 200 health-care experts, were present at the inauguration of the event, which attracted delegates from the Kingdom and the region.
Besides international speakers from United States, Europe and World Health Organization, senior officials from the Ministry of Justice and Saudi Human Rights Commission were also present.
The minister, who also opened an exhibition that is running concurrently with the symposium, said the program dubbed "Rikazatha" would follow the modern health-care system on a par with global standards and in accordance with the vision and wishes of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
According to the strategy, the Kingdom has been divided into five main regions and each region would have four levels of health services designed to offer the best services for the people.
The ministry, he said, has organized several programs and initiatives such as the weekly meetings open to the officials and annual consultative forums between service providers and beneficiaries.
Al-Rabeeah also said that the name of the Patients Rights Department in the Ministry of Health would be changed from Monday to "Patients Rights and Relations."
“Based on principles and values established by the Ministry of Health, the newly renamed Department of Patients Rights and Relations will be the link between the service provider and the beneficiary, which would ensure health officials to maintain a good rapport with the patients.”
Al-Rabeeah said: “The Patients Relations Symposium is the first of its kind in the GCC and Saudi Arabia is the hub for patients relations excellence. The Ministry of Health gives its full support in helping to promote the importance of developing this area in the Middle East. The whole idea is to take health services to the doorstep of the patients with a friendly approach.”
The minister noted that the Kingdom's health-care industry has experienced rapid expansion in recent years, and on current evidence the indication is this trend will continue. “With health-care professionals playing a pivotal role in the overall development of the Kingdom's economy, the symposium is indeed an important initiative for the country, and the Middle East as a whole.”
Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani described the symposium as the very first initiative of its kind in the GCC region. “The program, which highlights its significance to the region, is organized by the Ministry of Health and the leading French business information company Naseba.”
He pointed out that the forum would focus on patients relations and relevant health-care issues at a strategic level.
“With the full support and participation of the ministry, it is designed to provide knowledge-sharing and deal full opportunities to health-care leaders across the region.”
Speaking on behalf of the minister of justice, Sheikh Mohamed Al-Fahim, deputy minister of justice, said the rights of patients include an understanding of rights and responsibilities of patients and their families, and access to care, privacy and confidentiality, protection and safety, respect and appreciation and participation in the health-care plan.
“The main focus of the symposium is to enable Saudi Arabia’s health-care sector to share its knowledge and expertise in patient relations.”
Dr. Abdulaziz Aldakhil, general director of the Patients Relations Program, said the program is meant to prioritize the health services as "Patients First." He added that there would be nine scientific workshops where a total of 37 papers would be present during the two-day symposium.
“This summit enables health-care professionals from around the GCC to connect and discuss relevant issues and possible future strategies and solutions,” said Naseba Healthcare series director, Fabien Faure.
