Saudi Gazette report

Riyadh — Public health will be adopted as a policy and priority in all regulations and legislations for preventing diseases.

An approval to this effect was granted by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

This was announced by Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, who said the approval reflects the concern of the leadership for the wellbeing of citizens and providing them the best medical care.

He said the policy has been derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) and international referral health institutions.

This has been the main policy in many countries which have succeeded in providing better healthcare services, the minister said, giving examples of Finland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Britain among others.

He said that hospitals and health centers will be separated from the ministry and they will be converted into public sector companies to compete with one another on the basis of quality, efficiency, productivity, reducing wastage, speedy decision-making and decentralization.

The ministry will focus on its supervisory and organizational roles once health centers and hospitals are separated from it, he said.

Al-Rabiah said healthcare services will be provided through medical complexes comprising primary health centers, general and specialist hospitals which will provide comprehensive and integrated preventive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare.

He said the ministry has been carrying out programs and activities for public health safety through health awareness campaigns. The campaigns included spreading awareness about diabetes, breast and colon cancer, malaria, influenza, renal diseases, tuberculosis, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and AIDS.

The minister said public health should be taken into consideration in formulating policies and legislations in all government and non-government sectors and institutions and charitable societies.

This necessitates evaluation and review of policies, he said.

The policies should take into consideration the effect on health of draft regulations for a better wellbeing of society, Al-Rabiah added.

The health system should extend beyond just providing healthcare services rather it should include its impact on lifestyle, he said.