Contract Signed for Taif Hospitals

JEDDAH, 20 March 2007 -- Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie signed a contract on Sunday to build the 500-bed King Faisal Hospital and the 300-bed Medical Tower for Maternity and Children in Taif at a total cost of SR391.62 million, the Saudi Press Agency said.

Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, Al-Manie disclosed his ministry's plan to carry out 178 hospital projects in various parts of the Kingdom.

Al-Majal Al-Arabi Group will carry out the Taif hospital projects in association with Al-Harfi Company in three years. The project includes a building for outpatient clinics, a dialysis center, a warehouse and service facilities. There are now 11 hospitals in Taif, which is a summer resort that attracts a large number of tourists and holidaymakers from within and outside Saudi Arabia.

Al-Manie also signed an SR50.2-million contract for cleaning and maintenance of King Fahd Hospital in Madinah with International Development Group.

By P.K. Abdul Ghafour