Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of spinal cord injuries in the world, according to the Ministry of Health. Dr. Yaqoub Al-Mazroua, Assistant Undersecretary for Curative Medicine at the Health Ministry, said that 1,500 people are struck with spinal cord injuries every year in the Kingdom, with the main causes related to hereditary diseases and automobile accidents. Al-Mazroua said that the Ministry of Health had recently completed a plan to set up medical rehabilitation centers around the Kingdom, noting that in addition to the Rehabilitation Hospital at King Fahd Medical City (KFMC), there were four centers already in operation.