Lack of facilities cited for closure Mishal Al-Otaibi Saudi Gazette RIYADH — A private hospital — one of the oldest in the capital — has been shut down for several health-related violations. The Health Affairs Directorate ordered the closure Wednesday after a committee found the hospital in downtown Riyadh in violation of at least 17 regulations governing the health sector. The operation of the hospital, established 33 years ago, has been suspended until corrective measures are taken, Ahmad Al-Issa, director for private healthcare facilities at the Health Affairs Directorate in Riyadh, said in a statement. “Lack of sufficient medical personnel and equipment could have a detrimental effect on the services provided to patients," he said. Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health, has given directives to take immediate action against any medical institution deemed to be compromising the safety of patients. Sources said the hospital did not have anesthesia, pediatrics and gynecology consultants. Also, there was no neonatal specialist in the pediatrics department nor was there a radiologist. It was also found that the number of anesthesia technicians was less than what was required. The Health Affairs committee found facilities at the hospital to be pathetic. There were only two outdated ambulances and the hospital did not employ a sufficient number of paramedics. The committee said the maximum life of an ambulance is five years, but the hospital's two ambulances were nearly 25 years old. In other violations, the hospital did not maintain a blood bank, there was no mechanical ventilator in the emergency ward and there were not enough beds in the ICU. The committee also found that the hospital had to transfer many emergency cases to other health facilities, as it did not have a neonatal ICU. It also found that the surgery department was run by only one consultant with no specialists or resident doctors. Al-Issa said the hospital would remain shut until all of these matters were resolved. “The hospital may not admit any new patients and a shutdown order has been posted at its entrance," he said. He said the hospital administration had been given a couple of days to transfer its in-patients to an appropriate healthcare facility in the city.
