The Ministry of Health has allocated SR200 million to compensate private hospitals which admit ICU patients who do not find beds in public hospitals, said Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah. The MoH is witnessing gigantic development and improvement in terms of services and facilities, Dr. Al-Rabeah said during a ceremony Sunday. He said that over 18,000 medical trainees were trained at MoH centers in addition to 9,000 trainees at the General Institute of Administration. Some 1,300 students were awarded medical scholarships to study abroad, he added. “The General Department of Training and Scholarships has awarded 1,800 medical scholarships and 200 administrative scholarships to doctors to study inside the Kingdom,” the minister said. The MoH has expanded the Visiting Doctors Program to include 1000 consultants in all medical fields, Dr. Al-Rabeah added. Doctors have been assigned to different MOH-run hospitals all over the Kingdom, he said, adding that 338 ICU and dialysis beds have been provided so far. “Daily surgeries were raised from three percent in 2009 to 33 percent this year. Waiting time was reduced as well. The MOH hired 18,000 doctors and nurses last year and 4500 doctors and nurses over the past six months”, he said. The minister said that new projects cost SR41 billion and included 195 medical facilities, five medical cities approved by a Royal decree, 97 hospitals, 22 medical towers, eight diabetes centers, 11 dental centers and 13 medical laboratories and blood banks. “Thirty-two hospitals are expected to be finished by the end of this year and the beginning of the next year with total number of 6,000 beds,” he added. __
