His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, has expressed his happiness with the massive developmental leaps that the Control Center of Mina Emergency Hospital has undergone, by applying the world's latest and most advanced information technologies and systems.
During his inspection tour through the center, last Sunday night, His Excellency the Minister of Health listened to an elaborate account given by the advisor to the Minister of Health, general supervisor of ICT and head of the IT Committee during Hajj, Dr. Mohammed R. Al Yemeni, in addition to a number of the Center's officers, on the services provided by the center and the massive developments it witnessed. Dr. Al-Rabeeah praised the center's staff and thanked them for the colossal efforts they exert for the sake of Allâh's guests, by using the state-of-the-art communicative technologies, thus facilitating the provision of health services for diseased pilgrims.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah was quoted as saying, “On my behalf, and on behalf of the MOH's undersecretaries and employees, I would like to express my happiness with having a control center with such a magnitude, keeping pace with the world's latest and most advanced technologies. I want to make known that implementing such an advanced technology during Hajj is just the beginning. It will follow that this systematic approach will be generalized throughout the Ministry.” He went on to say that, “As you have already heard, we will be eliminating a number of paper-based programs in the course of the upcoming year, for we believe depending on technologically advanced will prove effective in facilitating the provision of health services for pilgrims, Allâh willing.”
For his part, Dr. Al Yemeni said, “Last year, His Excellency the Minister of Health gave his directives to develop the center and supply it with the equipment, methods and technologies that would help decision-makers take better decisions with regard to pilgrims' treatment. In compliance with these directives, we have embarked on establishing the required infrastructure, preparing the required technologies, and developing the required programs.”
“Among His Excellency's directives,” Al Yemeni added, “was to endeavor, in the new year, to improve the programs meant to serve pilgrims, such as the programs that have to do with the communication with hospitals, given this means of communication is much better than the traditional paper-based means, in terms of both speed and efficiency. We have already managed to increase the center's connectivity, with the effect that, right now, we have an integrated network in the Holy Places, capable of working even under abnormal circumstances.”
Besides, Dr. Al Yemeni revealed that the Ministry developed software for tracking ambulances, utilizing the Global Positioning System (GPS) in finding the Ministry's various services and facilities in the Holy Places. This software is available for everybody, so that pilgrims could position themselves with regard to the Ministry's hospitals and health centers. A second software has been developed to enable the Control Center to track emergency cars; their directions, whether or not it is working, where its engine is working but the car itself is not moving, or whether it is moving slowly owing to overcrowding. Depending on its situation, the proper decision could be taken.
Concluding his statement, Dr. Al Yemeni mentioned that one of the programs operated in the Center is a program for bed-monitoring (normal and intensive-care beds alike), in terms of the bed-occupancy rate in the Holy Places' hospitals, so that decision-makers take the right stance towards the various ambulatory cases in the Holy Places, in Makkah and Madinah.