The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin
Abdul Aziz has supervised the establishment of a vast network of hospitals
and health care centers throughout the Kingdom.
Providing for the health care needs of the Saudi people has always been a
priority of the Kingdom's leaders. Saudi Arabia has achieved astonishing success
in health care services, such as free medical treatment for all citizens and the
virtual eradication of epidemic diseases.
The government has also made substantial progress in protecting the younger
generations. According to Director-General of the Ministry of Health's Makkah
region Dr. Muhammad Jalal Aashy, the Kingdom is the only country which requires
all children to be vaccinated against major diseases within one year of their
birth.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia was the first among only a few nations that adopted
the Alma-Ata Document, and did so "almost in full." The document was created
during a meeting held in Alma-Ata, Kazakhistan and sponsored by the World Health
Organization (WHO) in the early 1980s. The result was a call for a comprehensive
health care package for children including compulsory vaccination and primary
health care. Due to advancements in both health care services and facilities,
the Kingdom has been able to make great strides towards implementing the
document. Children receive vaccinations against diseases such as tuberculosis,
hepatitis, tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, measles and mumps. All of these
efforts have led to a significant reduction in child mortality rates, which have
fallen from 68 per 1,000 in 1980 to less than 30 per 1,000 in 1993.
In order to further protect children and other citizens, the Kingdom has
launched a campaign this spring to monitor suspected cases of polio among
residents and visitors entering the Kingdom. During the Hajj season, when more
than two million pilgrims visit the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's
Mosque in Madinah, the Ministry of Health has been active in protecting pilgrims
through vaccination campaigns. In 1991, the Ministry began fighting meningitis
and plans to begin a new program targeting those not vaccinated or vaccinated
before that date. These campaigns are a result of cooperation between both the
public and private sectors. For instance, the Ministry provides vaccines free of
charge to both private and public facilities to ensure accessibility to everyone
in Saudi Arabia.
Dramatic improvements in prenatal and pediatric care have
resulted in a sharp decline in infant and child mortality rates.
The development of a comprehensive and modern health care system in the
country is evident in the number of facilities and specialized services, as well
as the decrease in those seeking health care treatment abroad. Since the
government began its series of five-year development plans in 1970, Saudi
Arabians have had access to thousands of hospitals and clinics throughout the
country. The Fifth Development Plan (1990-1994) led to a 13.92 billion dollar
investment in the health sector aimed at building new facilities or improving
existing ones. The number of hospitals, clinics and health centers have
increased five-fold in the last two decades, while the number of physicians
increased 21-fold and nursing and technical staff grew 16-fold.
According to the Minister of Health Dr. Faisal Al-Hegelan, the Kingdom
currently has 306 state-run hospitals and 1,700 state-run primary health care
centers which provide a range of medical and health services to all. The King
Fahd Project for Health Care is a pioneering campaign including 2,000 health
care centers. During the first phase, over 500 centers will be constructed,
servicing major Saudi cities. The newest is the King Faisal Medical City, which
is soon to be inaugurated. It will provide health care, specializing in
education and conducting research. Minister Al-Hegelan stated: "This medical
city, which contains excellent facilities for diagnosis and treatment, will
receive patients referred from hospitals inside and outside of Riyadh."
All of these facilities, both existing and planned, are strategically
located in order to provide accessibility to all people in Saudi Arabia. The
Kingdom is already home to one of the largest hospitals in the Middle East, the
King Fahd Medical City, which encompasses five hospitals and various health
centers. Al-Hegelan noted this unprecedented development has resulted in 98
percent health care coverage throughout the Kingdom.
With regard to specialization, hospitals and clinics provided only general
services 20 years ago. Today, however, the quality of health care improves as
more facilities specialize in numerous fields, including obstetrics and
gynecology, psychiatric care, contagious disease and eye disorders. In fact, one
of the largest eye hospitals in the world is the King Khalid Eye Specialist
Hospital in Riyadh. According to Dr. Aashy, in the Makkah region alone
facilities exist for heart surgery, neurosurgery, kidney transplants and teeth
implants. Furthermore, over 7,000 open heart surgeries have been performed in
the country, according to well-known heart surgeon Dr. Hassan Raffa. The cardiac
facilities have a success rate exceeding 70 percent and continue to provide
heart transplant services to their patients. Many of these heart ailments are
treated at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital's Heart Center in Makkah, a center
sponsored by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz. Dr.
Mansour Muhammad Al- Nozha, President of the Saudi Heart Association (SHA),
noted that the Kingdom was planning to extend heart surgery to the Gulf Hospital
in Dammam and the Military Hospital in Khamis Mushayt.
As the nation's most precious resource, children receive high
quality medical care.
The Joint Center for Research on Artificial Limbs has recently introduced
special programs to prevent and treat spinal injuries, including awareness
campaigns and specialized training for medical staff. Dr. Muhammad Al-Turaiqi,
the General Supervisor at the center, also noted plans for a rehabilitation
program for victims of spinal injuries. Moreover, the quality of health
professionals in the Kingdom also illustrates the dedication to health care
development.
The skill of Saudi surgeons is exemplified by Dr. Raffa, who has been
invited to several European countries to perform heart operations. Saudi
Arabia's health care services and facilities maintain the highest international
standards.
The Kingdom continues to improve its services through initiatives such as
numerous international seminars sponsored by SHA. The three-day meeting of the
Sixth Session of the SHA recently concluded in Jeddah. The seminar was opened by
the Deputy Governor of Makkah Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen who pointed out the
continued government support for heart research and treatment. Dr. Al-Nozha
noted that the latest diagnosis and treatment techniques are discussed at these
seminars. This latest session was the greatest in scope and presentation to
date, involving 20 foreign speakers from the U.S., U.K., the Netherlands,
Canada, Egypt and Jordan. Topics discussed at the session included various
cardiac diseases, treatments and state-of-the-art technology.
Research and education also play a role in improving the health of the
nation. The Health Ministry sponsors health awareness programs through the
distribution of publications, posters and media advertising. These projects are
aimed at informing the public about various diseases, nutrition, preventative
vaccination, the dangers of smoking and the effects of environmental pollution.
Health research in the Kingdom not only improves the quality of life within
Saudi Arabia, but also throughout the world. For instance, the research
conducted at the King Saud University's School of Pharmacology has resulted in
the development of new drugs, including one for the treatment of diabetes. The
King Khalid University Hospital has been in the forefront of cancer research.
Numerous charitable and benevolent societies are active throughout the
nation, meeting the needs of handicapped and senior citizens. One significant
provider is the Saudi Red Crescent Society which offers health services both
within the Kingdom and abroad. The Red Crescent Society operates 141 medical
centers, as well as a fleet of mobile clinics, medical evacuation helicopters
and 500 ambulances.
This organization provides first aid emergency medical treatment in the
Kingdom and to victims of natural disasters throughout the world. In fact, the
Red Crescent Society operated field hospitals and food distribution centers to
fight famine in Somalia in 1993. During the Hajj, the society sets up health
care centers staffed by over 1,400 health professionals and hundreds of support
personnel to ensure the health and well-being of the pilgrims. The Ministry of
Health also provides services in conjunction with the Hajj. Dr. Aashy noted:
"This year we will be in a position to reach out to more patients," adding that
more doctors and equipment will be available to provide assistance to those
pilgrims. Just as important, preventative measures have been taken, including
vaccinations and health care awareness campaigns directed towards all pilgrims.
The Ministry of Commerce recently developed an initiative to improve the
distribution of medicine. Through the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
the Ministry has entrusted the Saudi Pharmaceuticals and Medical Appliances
Company with a research project aimed at developing a fair pricing mechanism for
imported medicines. Significant strides have been made in the production of
pharmaceuticals, with local output presently supplying 15 percent of domestic
demand. Plans have been implemented to raise this market share to 50 percent in
the year 2000.
In addition to basic medical care, Saudi children and citizens have
access to specialized health services, including physical and social
rehabilitation programs.
The Kingdom's pharmaceutical dispensing is another way of achieving high
medical standards. Besides maintaining prices, the Kingdom assures appropriate
dosage and dispensing by monitoring such transactions. The state believes
private dispensing may lead to inaccurate dosages as well as an increase in
medicine price, resulting in health hazards. According to the Director of
Licensing for Pharmacies, Polyclinics and General Practitioners Dr. Sameer
Linjawi, restricting private dispensing enables the Kingdom to maintain ideal
health levels for the community. If dispensing mixtures at pharmacies was
permissible, patients could easily obtain contaminated or polluted doses.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health prevents anyone from operating unethical
practices, such as selling sample products or expired medicine, through routine
inspections. The Kingdom's pharmacies are equipped with a wide range of products
including all types of medicine, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, ankle and knee
braces, cervical collars, abdominal binders, hospital supplies, skin- care
products, and cosmetics, all of which have to meet Saudi regulations for safety.
The accessibility to medicine is ensured through the 1,500 pharmacies operated
by 3,500 qualified and trained personnel. Moreover, the prices for medicine are
lower in the Kingdom than in any neighboring country.
The ad-vances achieved by Saudi Arabia in the field of health care and
medical services in recent decades have set the stage for continued development
in new areas in the medical sciences in years to come.
Source Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia-Washington, D.C.
