RIYADH — The Haj Preparatory Committees (HPCs) at the Ministry of Health have approved a self-managed year-round healthcare program for Umrah pilgrims. The approval was made at the latest HPCs meeting chaired by the Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development and the Chairman of HPCs, Dr. Mohammed Khushaim. HPCs are composed of directors general of the Ministry of Health and their mandates are related to healthcare services needed during the pilgrimage season. Services will be provided at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah's Prince Mohmmed Bin Abdulaziz Airport, and the Taif airport as well as at all land points of entry. Dr. Husein Al-Ghannam, the Director General of Haj and Umrah Health Services and a committee head, told Saudi Gazette the program will be in place as soon as its budget is approved by the Ministry of Finance. “It will further enhance the healthcare services already provided by the ministry and will give the ministry more flexibility in preparing for Umrah healthcare needs and recruiting administrative and healthcare personnel. “It will help in easing the pressure on healthcare facilities and allow for the mobilization of healthcare personnel to serve during the Umrah season,” he added. HPCs also evaluated the overall healthcare services' provision plan for this year's Haj season and the readiness of both Makkah and Madinah regions. It was decided to make additional manpower available in healthcare facilities in Makkah and Madinah for the upcoming Ramadan season. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health announced temporary job openings for this year's Haj season. The adviser to the Minister of Health and head of the manpower committee, Saud Al-Raffeeah, said the temporary jobs are available to qualified Saudis and expatriates. “While these jobs are mostly available in medical specialities for consultants, specialists and residents, there are also jobs for paramedics, nurses and other medical support staff,” he said. Interested professionals can apply online by going to the link: http://www.moh.gov.sa/eservices/hajj/pages/manpower.aspx. The Ministry of Health, as part of its annual readiness to provide healthcare services to pilgrims, mobilizes over 20,000 personnel, of which over 80 percent are healthcare workers while the remainder are administrators. They serve in the ministry's 21 hospitals and 154 primary healthcare centers in Makkah, Madinah, Arafat and Mina.
