Members of the National Retirement Association (NRA) here have appealed to the authorities concerned to fulfill their promises and meet their demands. The pensioners said for the last 18 months the authorities are dilly-dallying on their health insurance issue, especially since they suffer from problems associated with aging that require continuous treatment. They pointed out that a big percentage of retirees receive a pension of merely SR2,000 per month and this amount is insufficient to meet their families' essential needs. The pensioners criticized the society for ignoring their experience gained through their hard work all through their career and have called for changing the bureaucratic procedure followed by some government authorities. This bureaucratic red tape, they said, have prevented several retirees from achieving their aspirations. Samira Tarabulsi, deputy chairperson of the association's branch here, said the pensioners expect reduced treatment cost for them in private hospitals. She said most of them suffer from chronic diseases requiring continuous treatment but their low incomes prevent them from getting good health care. Talal Abu Safiya, a NRA member in Jeddah, said the society has been unfair to them and has not granted them enough care. He said the society does not recognize them nor does it appreciate the long years they spent serving it. Dr. Saleh Al-Zeila'iy, another member, bemoaned that the society does not care for the pensioners forgetting the role the constructive role they have played in the development of the society. Omar Ba-Othman echoed other members of the association. In this regard, he said the Shoura Council did not discuss in detail issues concerning the pensioners. “Their (Shoura Council) concern is always the retirees of the public sector while those of the private sector are forgotten,” he said.
