Okaz/Saudi Gazette ALKHURMA — Four years have passed since the completion of the 50-bed Mahani Hospital in Al-Khurma but people living in the town and neighboring villages are still awaiting its opening. Residents said the opening of the hospital would reduce their suffering because currently they have to travel long distances to receive medical treatment. "We were very happy when the hospital project was completed and handed over to the Health Affairs by the contractor four years ago but our happiness did not last long as its opening delayed endlessly," said Samir Al-Motaihi while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette. He said the new hospital was designed to serve people of more than 50 villages apart from travelers and visitors. "We have to find out the reason for the long delay in opening the facility," he added. Bajed Al-Otaibi called upon the health minister to open the hospital as soon as possible to improve healthcare services in Al-Khurma and surrounding villages. "The government should take action against those responsible for the delay in opening the hospital," he said. Mutie Al-Ghanami emphasized the importance of a hospital in the region. "Citizens of the region have suffered a lot because of the lack of a hospital in the vicinity. We have to travel long distances to receive specialized medical treatment," Al-Ghanami said. "It is unfortunate that people of the region are denied the new hospital's services even after the passage of four years after its construction spending millions of riyals. We look forward to the health minister's intervention to open the hospital without further delay," he added. Shabab Al-Moghairi said people of Al-Khurma have to travel 190 km to reach the nearest hospital in Taif. "This increases the suffering of patients and accident victims," he said while stressing the need to open Mahani Hospital to the public immediately. The Health Affairs in Taif received the hospital project four years ago after completion of the work. The department then announced it was in the process of furnishing and installing necessary medical equipment at the hospital in preparation to open it. It signed contracts with six companies to import equipment required for the hospital at a total cost of SR37 million. The hospital was supposed to have emergency, maternity and pediatric clinics, an operation theater, a laboratory, an intensive care unit and pharmacies, in addition to administrative offices and support service buildings. Abdul Hadi Al-Rubaiee, spokesman for the Health Affairs in Taif, said the hospital would be opened shortly after equipping it.
