ABOUT one and a half months ago my wife gave birth to a baby boy and the doctors informed me that the baby has heart defects and that they have to keep him under observation for two weeks. They also warned me that the baby may require a surgery. During these difficult times while I was closely following my little son's cardiac problems, I saw pictures of the burning Samta Hospital on social networking sites. It was not the first hospital fire in Jazan and it would not be the last, given the poor safety situation in our hospitals. However, I have got the mental satisfaction by thinking that major cities in our vast country are replete with advanced medical facilities including specialized hospitals. My little baby developed breathing difficulty due to congenital heart defects and I took him to King Salman Cardiac Center in Riyadh, the most advanced such facility in the Middle East. Unfortunately, doctors at the center referred my son to another hospital as they were unable to carry out the surgical operation required by the child. The center has the most advanced facilities but do not have the necessary medical cadre to perform such a complicated operation. I tried my best to take my child to another hospital without wasting time in order to save his life. With the intervention of former Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie, I was able to find an advanced hospital to conduct the delicate operation on my child. My son's story is part of the big picture of suffering by citizens as a result of the poor performance of our public hospitals. Many people find it difficult to get emergency surgeries done due to a lack of adequate medical facilities and specialized doctors and nurses. I have mentioned this personal story in this column only to draw the attention of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, who has been instrumental in introducing several reforms at the Commerce and Industry before taking up the new job. I really pray to God that He may support the minister to overcome the challenges he faces at the Health Ministry. The case of my little son, who suffers from heart holes, is one of the thousands of such cases in the Kingdom that require surgical intervention and other specialized treatment. Even for the treatment of my little child at a public hospital I had to rely on «wasta», or people who have influence. Who will close the holes on our public healthcare system, and who will extinguish the recurring fries at the public hospitals in Jazan?
