JEDDAH – Many patients, including undocumented workers, have been lying in private hospitals in Jeddah for months because they are unable to foot the exorbitant costs of treatment. The Okaz daily visited several private hospitals and found that the majority of such cases had been involved in traffic accidents and transported by ambulances from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA). A large number of the patients could not be taken to government hospitals due to the unavailability of beds; therefore, they were shifted to private hospitals where the cost of treatment reached tens of thousands of riyals in some cases. The Ministry of Health was petitioned to pay the bills but it declined to do so. Many of the patients are low income workers who suffer from critical conditions that require around-the-clock medical care. “We deal with all cases regardless of their nationalities. We rush them to the nearest hospital, private or public. Our mission ends there," explained Khalid Al-Hibshi, director of SRCA in the Makkah Province. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs Jeddah, said the Ministry of Health provides treatment to citizens and expatriates during emergency cases. It also transports patients to government hospitals and if beds are unavailable, the cases are referred to the nearest private hospital. “The ministry is responsible for footing the bill of any citizen who is referred to the private hospital. For expatriates, the insurance company should pay the bill." Moreover, he added, once the patient is stable, he will be taken to a government hospital if beds are available. If not, the patient will continue to receive treatment at the private hospital and the ministry or insurance company will bear the cost of treatment. Dr. Umair Hashim works in a private hospital and said the Ministry of Health directs all private hospitals to admit emergency cases, whether transported by SRCA ambulances or private vehicles. The private hospital sends a medical report to the ministry and the latter searches for an available bed for the patient in a government hospital. Dr. Hashim criticized the SRCA for failing to coordinate with private hospitals to make sure there are beds available. “Most ambulances don't take patients to the nearest hospitals, jeopardizing their life. The ministry bears the medical expenses of citizens. As for expatriates, the private hospital contacts their consulates. Some consulates respond while others refuse to accept to pay for medical treatment. In this case, the hospital has to bear the costs which can amount to thousands of Saudi riyals." — SG
