Rabeah, Minister of Health, paid a surprise visit recently to a hospital project site north of Jeddah which has been delayed for three years. He wanted to know why the contractor did not comply with the period agreed upon by the department of projects at the ministry, according to reports in the local media. Informed sources at the Jeddah Directorate of Health Affairs said the minister was annoyed and angry at the delay and held the contractor completely responsible and accountable for the delay. The minister also summoned Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Jeddah Health Affairs, to the site. Sources said the delayed project cost SR139 million and was initially a 300-bed hospital, but it was later decided to increase it to accommodate 500 beds at a cost of SR235 million. The contractor delayed implementing the project because his company wanted SR1.3 million for installing an emergency power generator. After the decision to expand the hospital, the cost of the power generator increased to SR3.5 million. Badawood said the minister stressed that strict measures should be taken against the contractor to make him complete the project and hand it over on time.
