RIYADH: Ten regions of the Kingdom are suffering due to shortages of single-doctor clinics, operating centers, analysis laboratories, diagnosis centers and physiotherapy centers, according to a report by the Cooperative Health Insurance Council. The regions of Al-Qassim, Hail, Northern Frontier, Jizan, Asir, Al-Jouf, Najran, Al-Baha, Tabuk and Madina lack the medical services they need, according to the report, a copy of which Okaz/Saudi Gazette obtained. There are 597 clinics in the Kingdom, 150 hospitals, 293 pharmacies and 485 polyclinics, the report said. Single-doctor clinics, single-day operation centers, analysis laboratories and physiotherapy centers are concentrated in Riyadh and Makkah areas and the Eastern Province. The Riyadh region occupies the first position in providing health care in the Kingdom, followed by Makkah region and the Eastern Province; the Northern Frontier Region occupies the last place, according to the report. There are 300,000 enterprises in the Kingdom that are providing employees with health insurance and there are 1,970 health centers authorized by the Cooperative Insurance Health Council to provide health care, the report noted. There are six million expatriate workers covered by health insurance and the number of qualified companies has reached 25, according to the report.
