The Shoura Council recently highlighted the need for a nationwide awareness campaign on common eye diseases and the possible disadvantages of using contact lenses.

The council made the recommendation to the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH) after the annual report of the medical facility was read at the 19th ordinary session of the council.

Urging the KKESH to intensify its efforts reach the masses through an awareness campaign, the council stressed the need to inform the public on the latest improvements in eye care and treatment.

According to the council, KKESH should bring about an all-out strategic plan for its services and provide data on performance indicators in its annual reports.

It requested the KKESH to reconsider the agreement with the John Hopkins Hospital to include a training program to be conducted by them in Riyadh for the local doctors in the field of eye care. Such program, the council members concurred, will add value and recognition by US Board for Optometry.

Another topic discussed by the council included the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s annual report for the year 1434-1435. After reading the report, the council called on the ministry to speed up completion of the national strategy to develop non-oil exports in cooperation with the concerned bodies. The Council members urged the ministry to remove regulatory obstacles that have negative effects on the environment of industrial investments.

A Shoura Council member proposed opening the market for gas filling, distribution and marketing to avert shortage of this commodity in the local market. He also requested the ministry to carry out field visits to ensure availability of gas at the set prices.

Another member said the ministry must coordinate with the concerned authorities to revise standards for used and imported trucks and not to allow trucks whose manufacturing date has exceeded five years.