Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH – People of Riyadh have opposed the move to raze Erqa General Hospital, which was established in 1993 at a cost of SR700 million, to build a public park in its place.

They asked the authorities to reveal the reason for the closure of the hospital in 2000 after it extended health services to the public for seven years. For the last 18 years the hospital remained abandoned and has become a playing ground for stray animals.

“We don’t know the exact reason for the hospital’s closure after it provided health services to citizens and residents for seven years,” said Nasser Al-Saeed while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

The full-fledged hospital had outpatient clinics, beds for in-patients, surgical facilities, and housing for doctors and nurses, in addition to recreational facilities.

“It’s quite surprising that the authorities wanted to demolish the hospital and convert the area it into a public park,” Al-Saeed said and urged higher authorities to investigate the matter.

He also wanted the authorities to punish officials responsible for wasting public money.

“We were very happy when the Health Ministry decided to build a hospital in Erqa,” he said. The eight-story project included a housing complex for hospital staff. “The hospital was provided with all required facilities,” Al-Saeed said.

He emphasized the need to reopen Erqa Hospital to reduce the pressure on other hospitals in the region. He said some “bad elements» in society have destroyed the hospital’s equipment and facilities after it was closed several years ago.

Khaled Al-Ahmady expressed his hope that authorities would reopen the hospital after reequipping and renovating its facilities. “The government has spent huge amounts of money on its construction but the hospital rendered its services to the public only for seven years,” he added.

“I have heard from informed sources that there is a plan to demolish the hospital and construct a public park in its place. We are totally against this plan. We want the authorities to reopen the hospital for the benefit of people living in the area,” he said.