The Ministry of Health on Tuesday announced a list of foreign workers who are eligible for medical care in government hospitals, community clinics, and other public medical centers. Sami Sulaiman, director of public relations at the Ministry of Health in the Eastern Province, announced the list on behalf of Dr. Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, the region's Director General of Health.The following categories of workers can get treatment in those facilities:1. Foreign contract workers with government agencies and institutions, provided, their work contracts stipulate that they are qualified for government medical care.2. Foreign workers employed as household help (such as housemaids), drivers, farmers and shepherds, are admitted free for medical treatment at government hospitals and clinics.3. Foreigners who are married to Saudi women, provided they are under the sponsorship of their wives, can get medical care in government hospitals and clinics, and so can their children. 4. Companies that employ less than 100 workers are not yet covered by the mandatory medical insurance, and such workers can still avail the services of government hospitals and clinic. Private companies that employ more than 100 workers are required to provide their workers with medical care under the mandatory medical insurance program now being implemented. These workers are not eligible for free medical care in government hospitals and clinics.5. All the above categories can still benefit the services of government hospitals and clinics by paying money depending upon their ailments, except those covered by medical insurance. The above categories of foreign workers, however, are not eligible for specialized treatments by medical specialists and highly qualified consultants with government hospitals. __
