RIYADH - A member of the Shoura Council said the Ministry of Health (MOH) is accountable for the shortage in in-patient and ICU beds in hospitals in the Kingdom. Dr. Muhammed Al-Zulfa, a Shoura Council member, called on MOH to explain the shortage especially since he said the ministry has a large budget.
Dr. Khaled Marghalani, MOH spokesman, said they are working out a solution to the shortage, beginning with the purchase of 100 ICU beds for the Riyadh Medical Complex.
Higher authorities have given the ministry approval to seek beds in private hospital. The ministry will foot the bill for their use, said Marghalani.
The run in beds in hospitals is so acute that some health institutions have waiting lists for patients including those with serious health conditions.
Among all the hospitals, King Fahd Medical City is said to lack in-patient and ICU beds the most.
Waleed Al-Ottaibi, a Saudi national, chided the hospital, saying that despite the medical feats attributed to such a modern facility, he still had to rush his brother to a private hospital for ICU accommodation after they were turned away by King Fahd Medical City for want of vacancy.
Dr Abdullah Al-Amer, Executive Director of King Fahd Medical City, said that MOH has already ordered the construction of several new hospitals to cater to the ever-growing number of patients.
By Ahmad Ghalab
© The Saudi Gazette 2008
