RIYADH -- As part of an ambitious SR3 billion plan to expand the Kingdom's health care facilities, Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Manie signed a number of agreements that include the building of three major hospitals.
"These new projects comes within the framework of the Ministry of Health's efforts to provide the best health care service to Saudi citizens and expatriates in every part of the Kingdom," said Al-Manie, speaking after the signing ceremony on Wednesday.
Among the new projects is a 200-bed hospital in Al-Ahsa named after Prince Saud Al-Jalawi at a cost of SR204 million, and two 100-bed hospitals at a cost of SR173 billion in Al-Laith on the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah and at Mekhawah in the Baha region.
"Al-Kefah Holding Company and Al-Mobti Contracting Company have been selected for the projects," said Al-Manie, adding that the total cost of the new health facilities has been fixed at SR3 billion.
He also said that part of the money would be used to install computer systems in some 50 hospitals and 300 health care centers.
The ministry has started work on building accommodation for nurses at an overall cost of SR370 million. Several hospitals across the Kingdom are also being renovated and refurbished.
There are over 320 government and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia with 46,840 beds. This is in addition to nearly 4,000 clinics owned and operated by Saudis and foreigners.
Hospitals in the Kingdom -- both governmental and private -- currently employ over 31,402 doctors, including 6,218 Saudi doctors.
This does not include the number of workers and paramedical staff employed by private clinics throughout the Kingdom. Hospitals also employ some 66,493 nurses and pharmacies.
The Kingdom currently provides a hospital bed for every 457 people and a doctor for every 673 people. Saudi participation in the health sector, especially in terms of percentage of jobs, is minimal.
Ghazanfar Ali Khan
© Arab News 2008
