The Health Ministry is trying to cancel orders of the swine flu vaccine it has already ordered from pharmaceutical companies, because of the poor public response to government's vaccination program, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, the Minister of Health. He said the ministry is currently holding negotiations with these manufacturing companies on the matter. He attributed the weak response to the campaign, by parents and guardians, to the intensive misinformation campaign carried out by people who claimed the vaccine was not safe. The minister said these people were not medical specialists but had nevertheless influenced citizens and expatriates. He confirmed that the vaccination program that was launched by the ministry is still ongoing. Al-Rabeah's made the comments during his inspection of King Saud Hospital in Riyadh Wednesday. He said the ministry was determined to provide the best medical care for patients in the country. He said the ministry's new strategy to deal with the public is to set up new departments specializing in public relations. This includes a patients' relations department, family enlightenment programs, home care, single day surgery and a department to deal with the rights of employees. As for the waiting lists for hospitalization, Al-Rabeah said that the lists have shortened. He said that the directorates of health affairs have been issued with directives “to admit any emergency case.” He said the second medical complex, which is being built next to the first complex at King Saud University, has 150 outpatient clinics, 300 pediatrics beds, 200 beds for gynecology and obstetrics and support clinics. He confirmed the ministry's intention to establish a third complex to serve more patients.
