Health projects worth SR2 billion launched in Hail

Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah launched SR2 billion worth of health projects in the Hail region in the presence of Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdulmuhsin on Sunday. In his welcome address, Director General of Health Affairs for Hail Region Nawaf Al-Harithi outlined the health care services provided to the region, including the ongoing cooperation between Hail University and Rowan University in France. Prince Saud opened a number of health projects including the cardiology center in the region and was briefed on the medical supplies available there. He also laid the foundation for a newly planned 300-bed Hail General Hospital and a new 40-bed kidney center. Speaking on the occasion, Al-Rabeeah thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his keenness in looking after the health of the people in the Kingdom. The minister said he was happy with the new Ministry of Health projects, which also include 16 medical centers and five medical warehouses. The minister also announced King Abdullah's approval of the establishment of a 200-bed maternity and children's hospital at a cost of SR400 million, the agreement for which was signed Sunday. The king also approved another 300-bed hospital in southwest Hail plus another 15 primary health care centers (PHCs). Al-Rabeeah said the ministry had chalked out a strategic plan for the implementation of several health projects throughout the Kingdom. During the launching ceremony, a documentary highlighting the developmental activities of the Health Ministry with special reference to the Hail region was screened. As part of the SR16 billion budget allocated for the health sector by King Abdullah, Health Minister Al-Rabeeah had signed 35 contracts worth more than SR4.4 billion since January this year. In early January, the ministry signed more than SR3 billion worth of contracts with 30 private sector companies for health projects. They included the construction of hospitals, supply of pharmaceutical products and equipment, biomedical engineering projects, hospital supplies and furnishing of newly built hospitals throughout the Kingdom. Subsequently, SR1.4 billion worth of projects were signed that included the first stage of the King Faisal Medical City in the southern province, construction of a 15-floor tower at a cost of SR448 million, a SR252 million contract for a children and maternity hospital with a capacity of 300 beds in Sakaka in Al-Jouf, and installation of generators and elevators in several Ministry of Health facilities throughout the Kingdom. The Kingdom has an integrated health care system that covers both its citizens and expatriates in the country. The Ministry of Health under the leadership of Al-Rabeeah is a major player entrusted with the provision of preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care for the Kingdom’s population. It provides primary health care services through a network of more than 2,000 PHCs in the Kingdom. The ministry is considered the lead government agency responsible for the management, planning, financing and regulating the health care sector. The ministry also undertakes the overall supervision and follow-up of health care related activities carried out by the private sector.