There is a drastic shortage of hospital beds in Jeddah because of construction delays, resulting in poor services and rising costs for patients, according to the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR). The city has 1,500 beds currently, but needs a further 2,000 to keep pace with Jeddah's population of four million people, said Dr. Hussein Al-Shareef, Chairman of the NSHR in Jeddah. The lack of beds in the intensive care units of some hospitals has seen patients moved to emergency units for treatment. The NSHR said that the Saudi Basic Law of Governance guarantees healthcare for every citizen. Shareef said that medical services should also be provided in towns and villages where there has been tremendous population growth. As the gateway to the Grand Mosque, Shareef said Jeddah should be given top priority in terms of the provision of medical services. He said the NSHR inspected a 500-bed hospital in north Jeddah which was scheduled to open last year; and a 300-bed hospital in east Jeddah which was only 70 percent complete. “This shows the core of the problem is the delay and failure to meet the deadline set for the completion of these vital projects.” Talal Qesti, an NSHR member, said there are 80 hospitals and primary health care centers in Jeddah. More services are needed otherwise the situation will worsen further. He said the shortage of beds and medical services is seeing some hospitals charge between SR200 and SR300 for medical examinations.
