Maher Abbas

Saudi Gazette

At a time when Saudi Arabia is celebrating its National Day, its healthcare system is in an excellent position, said Dr. Tawfik Khoja, Director General of the GCC Health Ministers Council.



He praised the government’s keenness and immense efforts to make world-class healthcare facilities and top quality services available for its citizens and expatriates.



“The Kingdom has made giant strides in health care, thanks to the utmost keenness and concern of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The Kingdom’s health sector is witnessing tremendous growth and massive expansion, making it a destination of many citizens from neighboring countries seeking advanced healthcare and treatment at its referral hospitals,” he said while highlighting the massive development taking place in the Kingdom’s health sector.



Referring to the progress achieved in the healthcare sector, Khoja said, “There are primary health centers in almost all cities, towns, villages and remote areas without exception.



“They are providing curative and preventive healthcare in addition to making available rehabilitation programs. There are also hundreds of training institutes, including health facilities and institutes attached to major hospitals and health specialty centers, which are supplied with highly-qualified doctors and paramedical staff who have experience and expertise in the latest advanced developments in their respective fields.

“The Kingdom attaches great significance to both preventive and curative medicine. There is utmost care for children, mothers, youths and the aged. Extensive preventive programs, promotion of a diet culture, health awareness programs, and combating infectious diseases are some of the major features of the Kingdom’s healthcare policy whose motto is ‘Patient First’,” Khoja said.



He highlighted the role of primary health centers in extending the best possible healthcare to both citizens and expatriates.



He noted that the development of the Kingdom’s health sector emanated from a sound health vision and message — getting healthcare is a right of every citizen and there is no compromise on the public health issue.



“The Saudi government is making colossal efforts to extend comprehensive curative and preventive healthcare to all people in the Kingdom, in line with the basic principles of Shariah and ethics of the medical profession,” he added Khoja said the Kingdom’s healthcare facilities and services have won accolades and appreciation not only at the national level but also at the regional and international levels.



Shedding light on the present and future of healthcare in the Kingdom, Khoja drew attention to the remarkable achievements being made during the reign of King Abdullah.



Most important among them was allocation of more than SR7 billion for the establishment and furnishing of 2,000 primary health centers as well as to make available medical cadres at these centers after providing them with advanced training. There has also been an increase in the budgetary allocations for this vital sector.



King Abdullah also took an unprecedented initiative to develop the human resources in the medical field, including doctors, nursing staff and technicians by opening a number of medical, pharmacy and nursing faculties in all regions of the Kingdom.



Dr. Khoja highlighted the significance of Saudi Arabia not only as a GCC country with high reputation and excellent standard in the field of medical services but also as an exemplary model with regard to many health services and humanitarian initiatives at the regional and global levels. He lauded the all-round development being witnessed in the Kingdom in all walks of life, especially in the health sector.



He also noted that several Saudi hospitals and health institutions have obtained international recognition and certificates, including the accreditation of the Joint International Commission (JIC) for their excellent standards and performance.



According to Khoja, the health strategies that are in force in the Kingdom, and the short-term and long-term health campaigns reflect the extent of keenness shown by the Kingdom’s leadership and the health authorities in this vital sector.



“This also shows the pioneering role being played by the Ministry of Health in overcoming difficulties and hurdles that stand in the way of the ongoing development boom in the health sector until it blossoms into fruition,” he pointed out.



Khoja said he hopes the Kingdom’s experiment in the healthcare sector will be highlighted in front of the international community as a successful model.



“The Kingdom’s approach, which is based on its domestic policy that was formulated in line with the basic tenets of Islam, as well as its international relations that sprang out of its heritage and culture and its respect for human rights, should also be highlighted,” he added.