JEDDAH: Newly appointed Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah faces several pressing concerns as he takes over his new portfolio, including insurance, upgrading facilities, boosting primary health care, tackling infectious diseases and preventing high staff turnover.
Al-Rabiah, the former commerce minister, who is widely recognized for his successes at his previous job, is being seen as the person who can restore faith in public health services, according to a report in a local publication on Tuesday.
Many new graduates are looking to Al-Rabiah to provide them with jobs, as promised to them by previous incumbents; while those employed want a review of pay levels and benefits. Another hot topic is the exodus of medical and nursing staff from government hospitals to better paying jobs in the private sector.
Citizens are also eager for the minister to deal with medical errors at public hospitals and to issue rapid and impartial decisions. They also want urgent solutions to long waiting periods for appointments, and insurance that can cover all their costs at hospitals in the country.
Users on Twitter and other social media sites have been using the hashtag # “What We Need from the Health Minister Al-Rabiah” to raise their concerns and grievances.
Al-Rabiah, the former commerce minister, who is widely recognized for his successes at his previous job, is being seen as the person who can restore faith in public health services, according to a report in a local publication on Tuesday.
Many new graduates are looking to Al-Rabiah to provide them with jobs, as promised to them by previous incumbents; while those employed want a review of pay levels and benefits. Another hot topic is the exodus of medical and nursing staff from government hospitals to better paying jobs in the private sector.
Citizens are also eager for the minister to deal with medical errors at public hospitals and to issue rapid and impartial decisions. They also want urgent solutions to long waiting periods for appointments, and insurance that can cover all their costs at hospitals in the country.
Users on Twitter and other social media sites have been using the hashtag # “What We Need from the Health Minister Al-Rabiah” to raise their concerns and grievances.
