Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman approved a number of decisions taken by the Saudi Health Council (SHC) including the establishment of the National Center for Evidence-based Health Practice.

The King also endorsed standardization of the use of laboratory measurement units in all health sectors.

Dr. Nahar Al-Azimi, secretary general of SHC, said that the royal approval also makes mandatory for all hospitals to receive cases of heart attacks or suspected Myocardial infarction (MI) cases transported to hospitals by the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, provided that these hospitals have the facilities to handle such cases.

The Monarch also directed SHC to implement a uniform referral system for all government and private health service providers in order to benefit from the referral program and to develop it to meet the needs of these services, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The standardization of the use of laboratory measurement will be applied to all laboratory tests conducted in all health sectors in the Kingdom. This will be applicable to the Public Health Protection Program. This aims to enhance the performance of the public health system and achieve a supportive environment for a healthy society with high quality life.

The King also approved regulations to improve and develop oncology services in the Kingdom under which all specialized hospitals and medical cities will be instructed to activate joint programs of cooperation.

The King also approved SHC’s decision to activate, through its National Oncology Center, a national registry of tumors and the dissemination of results on a regular basis.