JEDDAH: A number of non-Saudi patients and some medical and health staff still remain at King Saud Hospital despite speedy efforts by the technical and administrative committees to close the hospital.

The reason behind their staying back is related to security issues that link the patients’ passports and the local police departments, according to Ahmad Faden, the assistant director of Health Affairs in Jeddah.

“The authorities and government agencies are working to deport these foreigners to their original countries in accordance with the defined regulations,” Faden said.

He said that the medical and technical staffs existing in the hospital are there to extend the necessary medical and human assistance to the patients until they return to their countries.

In a related development, Dr. Hamid Alnufaiei, a hospital director in Jeddah, said the hospital received several patients who were moved from King Saud Hospital.

“The hospital here has allocated six special clinics fully equipped to serve the patients, in addition to a clinic allocated for counselling and guidance. About 6,000 medical files were entered into the system,” he said.

The health conditions of the patients are stable and assuring, he said.

Dr. Hamid confirmed there are no shortages in medicines for AIDS patients and stressed on the importance of maintaining the privacy of patients.