A hospital in Riyadh has allowed its doctors to remove a large-sized malignant tumor from a critically ill Sudanese refugee free of charge.

The tumor, almost 15 centimeters big, had obstructed the patient’s colon, posing a threat to the 60-year-old man’s life.

The hospital waived the entire medical bill, worth SR20,000, which includes admission, tests and surgery, on directives from Atiq Al-Qarni, the hospital’s director.

“The hospital management decided to cancel the medical bills for this Sudanese patient as a humanitarian gesture in line with directives issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to treat all critically ill patients in the Kingdom irrespective of their status,” he said.

The surgery was performed at Imam Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Hospital, which functions under the Health Ministry, in Riyadh last week.

“The operation was considered high-risk due to the patient’s complex medical history,” said the senior operating surgeon on the case.

“The patient had suffered profuse rectal bleeding and severe weight loss over last six months, in addition to acute anemia.” The surgery was performed within an hour-and-a-life.