All government hospitals will treat foreign victims of domestic violence free-of-charge as per a directive of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The hospitals have been notified by the Ministry of Health to provide detailed reports of such free treatment provided. The free treatment service will be available until such time all foreign residents are covered by the cooperative health insurance program. Dr. Muflih Al-Qahtani, chairman of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), said the King's directive is a “big help” reflecting the care accorded to foreign workers in the Kingdom. Victims of domestic violence, both citizens and residents, have complained to NSHR about being denied access to government hospitals, and not being able to afford treatment at private hospitals, Dr. Al-Qahtani said. The King's directive followed a Ministry of Health report to him about the plight of such workers, many of whom are still to be included in the cooperative health insurance scheme.
