RIYADH — The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has approved the National Policy for National Survey of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Saudi Health Council (SHC) Secretary General Dr. Nahar Bin Mezki Al-Azemi stressed King Salman’s approval of decisions made by the SHC embodies interest in the health sector in Saudi Arabia and harnessing capabilities to develop the level and quality of health services.

He noted that National Policy for National Survey of Autism Spectrum Disorder is part of organizing and legalizing services offered to families of people of growth and behavior disorders in coordination with health sectors and stakeholders.

He added that this national policy aims at implementing organized procedures to uncover autism spectrum disorders in the preliminary healthcare in early stages and deal with these cases through the national survey and raising health awareness.

Dr. Al-Azemi noted that the decision required health sectors that provide services for children to adopt gradual steps in applying this policy, provided that the policy should be applied by the end of 2022.

He pointed out that all cases diagnosed with autism spectrum would be listed on the national register of autism spectrum disorder at SHC. — SPA