Aids patients are refusing to have treatment at the new King Saud Hospital in northern Jeddah because they claim the hospital cannot guarantee that their status will be kept a secret. Aids patients had previously been treated at the King Saud Hospital for Fevers and Contagious Diseases at the Jeddah Islamic Port. However, the Ministry of Health has closed down the hospital and relocated 12 Aids patients to the new King Saud Hospital. Other patients have been referred to different hospitals, including 19 tuberculosis patients who have been transferred to a facility in Taif. The new hospital features a private ward for Aids patients with a weekly specialist clinic. The new King Saud Hospital in northern Jeddah was inaugurated about six months ago to treat swine flu patients, Jeddah flood victims, and pilgrims. The old hospital has been converted into a center for testing foreign workers and Saudi job applicants as required by employers. A part of the building has been allocated to the Social Insurance Committee. Some Aids patients were surprised about the decision to close down King Saud Hospital at the port and relocate it. They said that they used to visit the old hospital's specialist clinics every week. One Aids patient, who has lived with the disease for four years, and only identified as M.A., said he was fearful of going to the new hospital because his condition might be exposed. M.A., an Aids patient, said that he contracted Aids from a blood transfusion some four years ago. He had been attending the specialist clinic at the old King Saud Hospital at the port. The man was requested to follow up on his case in the new hospital. “They are all Aids patients in that ward. Don't worry,” M.A. said he was answered by the administration when he questioned privacy at the new hospital. The man voiced his fears that his secret would be “exposed” and might cause a scandal in his family. But a solution for his dilemma is still far away “Everyone knows that people who go to the new hospital have Aids,” he said. M.A. said nobody knows about his disease except his wife, who convinced him to go for treatment. Even his children do not know that he has contracted Aids. The new hospital does not treat Aids patients only, but also other cases, which may make it hard for M.A. to continue his treatment. “I would rather die than to run into a friend or a relative in that hospital,” he said. “What am I supposed to tell them if they check on me with the hospital,” he said. “You know we have very curious people around here,” he added. He thinks that the operation of the new hospital will not guarantee his privacy. Another patient, who also requested anonymity, said that while the new hospital has state-of-the-art equipment, he was also worried about confidentiality. “I will go to the new hospital only when I've confirmed that there is total secrecy and privacy in the check-ups and tests; and that there are no other patients.” In response to the Aids patients, Dr. Tariq Madani, adviser on epidemic diseases to the Minister of Health, said that there was nothing to fear. “Since we started treatment of Aids patients, we have made sure that everything is kept secret. This will continue by keeping them in a special wing at the new hospital.” He added that patients will also get better treatment. “The new hospital has many departments to help treat Aids patients. They can undergo catheterization and surgery; and procedures and treatment in various other departments,” he said. The Ministry of Health treats AIDS patients free of charge. Each case costs the state SR100,000 a year. In a related development, the Jeddah Health Affairs Department has called on 103 of its personnel, including 11 doctors and 40 nurses of the old hospital to meet with a committee formed by Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs in the city. This meeting will try to ensure staff is spread out among hospitals and health centers in the governorate. Appointments for interviews start Tuesday morning and will continue for a period of seven days. All employees have been asked to bring their identity cards and CVs. The rest of the administrators and technicians, of about 300 people, would meet the committee next week so that they can also be transferred to other facilities.
