JEDDAH: The Health Ministry’s “Citizen’s Voice” feedback initiative on its website has seen 48 percent of 380,000 respondents rate its services as “poor.”

Citizen’s Voice was set up to get responses from citizens and residents directly with complaints, inquiries, suggestions and praise. A total of 19.6 percent rated services as “average,” 19.5 percent as “very good,” and 20.1 percent as “excellent.”

The system allows users to connect directly with departments at the ministry, with officials expected to answer within three days. If there is no answer from a department, then the system sends another e-mail to the address.

Once a ministry official responds, then the citizen or expatriate receives an alert on their cellphones.