Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi health care sector is witnessing major transformations in line with Vision 2030 which focuses on enhancing the quality of preventive and therapeutic health care services, Cathy Easter, president and CEO of Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services, has said.

This was demonstrated during the inauguration of Houston Methodist Hospital’s new office in Riyadh, which will cater to the hospital's Saudi-based partners and global patients.

Vision 2030 addresses the Kingdom’s health care sector challenges, and will work on promoting preventive care, reducing infectious diseases and encouraging citizens to make better use of primary care. With an estimated 2 million increase in the Saudi population by 2020, doctors will be provided training to further improve treatment for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancers that threaten the nation’s health. Houston Methodist aims to improve access to medical services and reduce waiting times for appointments with specialists and consultants through various partnerships with key health care institutions.

“With a relationship spanning more than three decades, the health care sector in the Kingdom has witnessed major improvements in human capacity building and in the sharing of best practices in patient care, education and transformational leadership. Houston Methodist has been a long-standing partner in the Kingdom and with healthcare being one of the main focus areas of Saudi Vision 2030, our commitment to the Kingdom’s healthcare sector remains unchanged; we have no doubt that through our unified vision, shared experiences and efforts, we will further contribute to its growth,” Ms. Easter said,

She said that the office will serve as a focal point for Houston Methodist’s global efforts with the Ministry of Health as well as public and private health care institutions. The new office will serve to assist Saudi patients with their clinical and non-clinical needs in addition to facilitating exchanges between official and private healthcare organizations, physicians, nurses and patients.

The office’s inauguration took place following the launch of the First National Sepsis Reduction Campaign, headed by the Saudi Patient Safety Center, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Houston Methodist Hospital. The ‘Saving Lives, Saving Costs’ campaign aims to raise awareness and knowledge of patient safety and replicate the successes and lessons learned from other health institutions in the Kingdom.