Mane said the health ministry has adopted a strategy for setting up specialist hospitals in various parts of the country. Arrangements are underway to operate 150 health centers and to complete the projects of 420 health centers in addition to implementing projects of 444 health centers in the future, he elaborated. Dr Al-Mane said the Royal approval has been issued for carrying out the program of the Two Holy Mosques for health scholarships. Accordingly, 1000 physicians and technicians will be sent on scholarships. In the field of preventive health care arena, he said the health ministry is planning to enable the Kingdom enter the stage of being free from measles by the end of 2008, and from bilharzias by the beginning of 2009. Earlier it was announced that the Kingdom has become free from poliomyelitis. Dr Al-Mane pointed out that the implementation of the system of the health cooperation insurance system aims at providing all citizens and residents with the required health care. The Council of health insurance has approved 986 hospitals and medical centers and pharmacies in this context. The system of health insurance is now implemented on four million residents, he added.
