Mohammad Al-Zahrani
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
TAIF — A total of 1,100 non-Saudi patients in need of dialysis were denied treatment due to bureaucratic decisions by the Ministry of Health.
Saudi Organ Transplant Center General Director Dr. Faisal Shaheen said the 1,100 patients were admitted into a private company which offers dialysis and treatment for patients of renal failure.
“The ministry issued a decision to disable the company from offering dialysis and any medical treatment and made its role an operative and administrative one in the health sector.
“The Ministry of Health must take care of transferring the patients to other centers so their treatment does not stop or get delayed,” said Shaheen.
He added the patients are non-Saudis and therefore not covered by the public sector.
“The ministry should have arranged for the patients to receive alternative treatment at other centers without having to put them through any extra charge. Many of them do not have the money to afford any extra expenses,” said Shaheen.
He added Kilana Charitable Society funded 880 patients already, other charitable organizations in Jeddah funded 350 patients and other charitable organizations in Makkah funded 150.
There are 1,100 patients left with no funding.
“The ministry should at least publish the patients’ names and information on its website or the news to allow other charitable organizations and wealthy businessmen to donate for them,” said Shaheen.
Taher Mohammad, a patient of kidney failure, said the decision of the ministry was abrupt and unplanned.
“I don’t know what to do and where to go know. My life is on the line. I have to go through a dialysis on a weekly basis. The company I went to provided me this service. Where can I have a dialysis for this week?” asked Mohammad.
He added most of the other patients are in the same situation. All they have to do is wait for the ministry’s decision to compensate for them somehow.
“We have faith in the Ministry of Health and in the Kingdom’s humanitarian initiatives. We used to get our treatment at public hospital free of charge. We are hopeful that the ministry has a plan for us,” said Mohammad.
