RIYADH: The Ministry of Health referred over 27 percent of emergency cases to specialized hospitals owing to the lack of specialized doctors, local media reported.

The ministry finalized the referrals of 63.78 percent of the cases received by emergency departments because of the nonavailability of required services, approved the transfer of 5.68 percent of the cases received by emergency departments because of the lack of beds, and completed transfers of 2.63 percent of the total number of cases to specialized hospitals for other reasons.

Suleiman Ahmad Al-Sharee, supervisor for the program at the ministry, told local media that the MoH was able to save the lives of 107 people last week, with a percentage of 2.32, which were received by emergency departments affiliated with Ministry of Health hospitals. He confirmed that the ministry set the Ihalati (referral) program to serve patients quickly and efficiently through coordinating with other specialized hospitals that have the required facilities for treatment.

He pointed out that within the therapeutic framework offered by the Ministry of Health in its various facilities, Ihalati transferred 4,608 patients last week, of which 107 cases of the total referrals were critical.

The Ihalati program is a modern electronic program being implemented by the Ministry of Health. It offers medical consultations between doctors in various health facilities to study patient cases without the need to transfer the patient. It provides coordination and logistical support to refer patients from one medical facility to another, and presents an archive and surveying system with accurate data about referred patients through the program between various health facilities.