In the context of cultural renaissance and the continuous development of all infrastructure and services in our dear Kingdom, health services receive great care and attention of our leaders.
Health services in the Kingdom witnesses a major transformation in quantity and quality in all preventative, curative, diagnoses and rehabilitation levels due to the advanced medical care system and health care presenting methods. Statistics proves such improvement where distinguished accomplishments were achieved in all health facilities.
National Project
Due to our leadership commitment to build a great future for our beloved country, proceeding from the fact that public health is an integral part of the security, progress and well-being of our dear Country and as part of the Ministry of Health dedication to provide an integrated range of health care services in line with Islam principles and professional ethics, the Ministry is seeking, through a comprehensive Health Care National Project which was recently introduced to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, to focus on service receivers needs instead of the adopted health system in hospitals, which will able citizens to reach a continuous range of preventative, diagnostic, curative and rehabilitation services.
This project aims to enhance and strength primary health care, using health care facilities effectively, providing integrated health care to all citizens, improve services quality and hire specialist consultants in all needed fields. The Ministry expects that this project will ease receiving suitable health services through a strong referral system. In addition of increasing beds number in order to be available to all people in the kingdom.
These goals are as followed:
Enhance and strengthen services
Using Health Care Facilities effectively through:
Establishing hospitals based on scientific standards and preventing small hospitals expansions in the future.
improving facilities transportation
improving central hospitals in areas in all specialties.
liking all facilities with a comprehensive data system.
Providing an integrated health care for all citizens.
Controlling health care services quality.
Hiring specialist consultants in all needed specialties.
The National Project consists of 8 components:
- developing and restructured hospitals
- enhancing Primary Health Care
- developing transforming system between health facilities
- upgrading ambulatory transport system
- developing Health Information System and e- health
- enhancing human resources
- insuring drugs and medical requirements
- preparing Ministry of Health facilities to implement quality systems
Strategic Plan
The Ministry has continued the strategic plan which is ready for final review. This plan is considered a continuous plan for the one approved by the Board of Ministers and in line with the National Project for Integrated Health Care and Health Care Council.
This strategic plan is considered suitable for the coming 10 years since it aims to presents justice in distributing health services, ease receiving services based on scientific indicators, reduce transferring patients between the Kingdom's areas and balance between all different health sectors with the cooperation of private sectors.
Information Technology and Communication:
Ministry of Health continued preparing the infrastructure and implementing health insurance system for 18 hospitals (out of 20 hospitals). In addition of implementing Computing Projects in 150 Primary Health Care Centers across the Kingdom, preparing the infrastructure and operating Health Data Systems in 28 hospitals (out of 30 hospitals).
Moreover, the Ministry has established a new developed Information Centre for the Ministry based on international standards where the old centre was transmitted to the new one. In addition of linking the 3 towers of the Ministry Divan to the internet and intranet. This new center contributed in upgrading web connections capabilities for the Ministry Divan with Directorates and increased internet connections 10 times than before. In addition of increasing internet and intranet speed for the Ministry Divan, Directorates and all 200 Beds Hospitals.
Health Geographical Data System Development Project (first phase) is done and linked with the Ministry's e-gate (were technical features for the second phase is still in progress). In addition of the Experimental Project for e-beds management system since 30 hospitals were linked.
Furthermore, Performance Monitoring System was developed. This system allows monitoring and developing performance quality in hospitals by using some performance standers and viewed electronically and in time to the Ministry officials. 3 hospitals are implementing this system and then circulated to the rest of hospitals. In addition, experimental phase for e-medical reports system is completed and started to implement it in all Kingdom's areas where newcomer workers medical reports are sent electronically to General Directorate of Passports.
ER Services
One of the most Ministry important achievements during the past few months is creating a unified emergency number. As a result, the Ministry with 3450 internal evacuation cases from peripheral hospitals to referral hospitals (12 cases daily) and transformed 19 external evacuation cases from abroad the kingdom to referral hospitals. The Ministry also participated in shipping 25 Tons of medication, in addition of needed medical teams, to the two field hospitals in Pakistan.
Medical Services for Patients Services
Home Health Care Program
This program is considered a great success where 3822 patients benefit from such program, 790 of them were registered during the last 3 months, and all are receiving special health care.
Bed Management Program and One Day Surgery
Through Bed Management Program, One Day Surgeries reached 21,000 surgeries, which means saving 42450 hospital residency days in 7 months and adding 200 beds for a year. One Day Surgeries Hospitals increased such kind of surgeries 93% in 200 bed hospitals or more and 80% in 100 bed hospitals. As a result, bed rotation rates were increased from 4 rotations per patientmonth to 6, which mean 4000 rotations added in 6 months.
Patient Relations Program
This Program is concerned of patient's issues and inquiries. Patient Relations Department received and resolved a 1300 case (19 cases a week). In addition of 450 complaints received by the Ministry website and 600 complaints viewed in media.
Workforce and Training
The Ministry has signed a contract with Public Administration Institution which trained 7000 employee. In addition of signing another contract with GE to set a strategic plan for the Training Centre. 260 doctors and nurses were sent in scholarships and trained about 200 employees by head leaders. More than 16000 doctors, nurses and technicians have arrived from abroad.
Medical Supplying
The Ministry has adopted a new method in direct purchasing from international companies, which have better offers than domestic companies, in order to provide substantial and necessary medicine in time.
Moreover, the Ministry has replaced 2 million doses of Swine Flue (H1N1) vaccine from GSK Company with a total value of more than 70 million Riyals, with vaccines and medicines used by the Ministry without any financial costs were H1N1 vaccine was replaced from Sanofi Pasteur Company with Mnictra Vaccine. In addition of using some medicines brands, such as cardio medicines, diabetes, blood pressure and asthma, with the same price of Generic.
The Ministry has supported breastfeeding campaign, financed the Ministry's fund with 25 million Riyals, enhanced Medicine Planning System to avoid the medicines expiration, activated the undone coordination between the Kingdom's areas for rotating unused medicines and developed vaccines list with high standards and measurements with good prices.
Health Services Quality
In order to assure providing high quality health services, 21 hospitals were qualified for CBAHI where 9 hospitals are being prepared to grant CBAHI.
The Ministry is in progress to implement Quality Diploma Program which trains 240 Saudi Employees. In addition of setting work policies and procedures draft for the Ministry's hospitals and Medical List Draft (English and Arabic).
Preventative Medicine
Immunization against targeted diseases has reached more than 97% for all vaccines. In addition of adding two new vaccines in Basic Vaccinations Schedule which are Varicella and Hepatitis (A).
Due to this high coverage, most diseases spread rates were decreased, such as BCG, where infection rates among children less than 15 years decreased to 2.6 per 100.000 people, which are considered less than global rate (305 per 100.000 people).
BCG spread rates has decreased 1% compared to global rates 3-1%. Targeted diseases by immunization such as Poliomyelitis, was eliminated, while Schistosomiasis and Malaria spread rates were reduced, new vaccinations were used and a National Program for Controlling Leishmaniasis were developed and implemented due to the offered tender in the beginning of this year, which is concerned of buying and distributing toxic substances to kill such disease holder (i.e. rodents).
Malarias Combat National Project
Malarias National Project was the most successful projects during the last two years since Malaria was eliminated from Eastern, Northern, Middle and Western areas. As a result, 2 thirds of kingdom's residents are protected from this disease and controlled to various degrees in Southern borders, especially in Jazan, due to its geographical environment and shared borders with affected places such as Yemen. Field Malarias Combating Centers were established across the Kingdom and supported by trained workforce as well as needed requirements. In addition of establishing the National Centre for Training and Researchers in Jazan, developing epidemic and insect control and exchanging information periodically (by monthly reports) between areas and Malarias Department based on high standards of epidemic control across all related units. Local registered cases were reduced in 2009 to only 58 cases, centered in border villages, compared to 15737 cases in 1997 due to many taken procedures, such as intensification of combating disease carriers, activating Malaria monitoring, spreading health awareness, implementing early diagnoses procedures and being ready to combat such diseases as soon as they occur.
Aids Combat National Program
The Ministry has expanded in epidemic scanning and implemented system syndromes to cure sexually transmitted infections, where 4 centers, specialized in curing aids, were established as well as launching Aids awareness campaign to introduce consulting clinics and examinations. In addition of convening Aids International Conference in the Kingdom and across the world.
Anti Smoking National Program
Ministry of Health formed an Anti Smoking Committee consist of a number of specialist and expertise in such area and represent many scientific and academic sectors within and out the Ministry. Anti Smoking Committee reviewer's number has reached 29530 reviewers in the first half of 1431 where people who quit smoking average rate have reached 53% across different clinics in the Kingdoms areas.
The Ministry also formed a mobile clinic in Governmental and Private Sectors to help people who are interested in quitting smoking. In addition of establishing e-clinics in the web in order to provide medical advices to smokers, follow up their progress.
The total number of clinics related to the Ministry has reached 38 clinics, 3 clinics are located in Anti Smoking Centers, 27 in Primary Health Care Centers, 8 in hospitals and 19 clinics are related to charitable organizations, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education and privet sectors.
Health Surveillance of Health Ports
The Ministry has accomplished the first phase of reviewing the needed requirements for health response plan the kingdom's major airports, harbors and land ports, based on International Health Regulations and International epidemiological updates with the continuous cooperation of World Health Organization. Moreover, Health Control Centers in all pilgrims' entrance ports were linked with the Ministry website using mobile DSL with coordinating with the IT and STC General Administration.
Furthermore, the Ministry is committed to apply health requirements to Hajj and Umrah Performers arriving from abroad the Kingdom where computers systems are developed to register pilgrim's numbers through different ports, in addition of preventative taken procedures in their countries ports based on the necessary health requirements.
As for applying World Health Organization patient safety regulations, the Ministry has applied the first regulation for Patient Safety World Alliance Program under the title (Clean Health Care for More Safety). In addition of applying the second regulation under the title (Safe Surgery Rescue Lives).
Anti Diabetes Program
The Minister research (Diabetes Epidemiology, Morbidity Burdens and Diabetes Economics in the Kingdom) was introduced this year. In addition of (Saudi Diabetes Risk Score Validation) research with the cooperation of World Health Organization expertise. Anti Diabetes Program was heavily reviewed with a local expert and many recommendations are still in progress. Furthermore, Ministry of Health has established 12 Diabetes Centers (out of 20) where cases number has reached 360.000 cases in 1431,registered through an e-program specialized for registering diabetes cases in Primary Health Care related to GCC Ministers of Health Executive Office.
In regards of new born early diagnoses, the number of examined new born in 1431 has reached 32931 newborn, where 30 has returned to be positive.
Healthy Marriage Program
Examined samples in Healthy Marriage Program for Genetic diseases (Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia) has reach 179523 samples in 1431, where negative result examinations reached 171617 cases, while 7910 positive result examinations were registered which 6317 cases are related to sickle cell carriers by 3.52% and 355 cases effected with this disease by 0.20%. Thalassaemia carriers number reached 1218 people (0.68%) compared to 20 effected cases (0.01%). During this year, the Program has registered 85773 negative results (free of genetic disorders) and 883 positive results.
As for contagious diseases statistics related to Health Marriage Program, examined samples has reached 179523 sample, where 2607 samples were negative, 50 of them were effected with Aids, 2161 for Hip(B) and 486 for Hip (C).
Dentistry Services
During the past 5 years, the 8th Development Plan has witnessed a great improvement in Dental Clinics numbers in hospitals, health centers and dental specialized centers. Such places present curative and preventative services in Dentistry through 2084 dental clinics distributed among hospitals, Health Centers and dental Specialized Centers in order to cover all Kingdom's areas and governorates, where there are 1166 clinics in health centers, 502 in hospitals and 413 in dental health centers.
Moreover, Dentistry clinics reviewer's numbers have reached 3.819.335 patient and 1.731.191 preventative services beneficiaries during the year 1429 and 1430.
Curative Medicine
The Ministry has opened 7 hospitals with 50-200 beds capacity during this year in each of AL Wajh governorate in Tabuk (200 beds), Tariff in Riyadh (200 beds). In addition of Bijadiah and Dhromah in Riyadh, Yedmah in Jazan and Ghzalah in Hail.
The Ministry has adopted One Day Surgery Program in hospitals which results in reducing health costs in hospitals by 46% compared to other surgeries. Furthermore, the Ministry has coordinated with the Ministry of Finance to update jobs in 12 hospitals and 9 rehabilitation centers. 9 Consultant Technical Committees were formed to enhance work plan in ERs, ICU, New Born, Neurosurgery, ENT, Blood Diseases, Gyn & Obs, Cardio Diseases and Diabetes. In addition of forming Technical Committees for the rest of specialties.
Blood Banks and Laboratories
Saudi CDC
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Government, represented by the Ministry of Health, is committed to establish the Saudi Combating Diseases Centre (CDC) which will be concerned of combating and monitoring diseases as well as Diseases Control and Prevention Centers in Atlanta, based on health services system in the Ministry of Health and humanitarian services in U.S.
This Centre contributes successfully in controlling viruses and diseases in Gulf and Arab Countries.
Such Centre is considered an important cornerstone for health services due to its preventative health services presented in controlling diseases and its important associated centers such as World Health Centre, Job Safety Health Centre, Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Centre, New and Common Diseases Centre, Aids Centre, Hip viruses, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Centre, BCG Prevention, Non Contagious Diseases Controlling Units, Environment Health, Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Centers.
Saudi CDC aims to achieve health goals related to each country political and national strategies, develop health centers and laboratory employee's competencies, provide health information bank and related IT, early diseases combat, identify new viruses and perform the needed researches (locally and Internationally) .
Health National Laboratory
The Ministry plans to run the National Health Laboratory which is located in an area of 132,000 square meters with total cost 320 million Riyals and considered the largest in the Middle East. This Laboratory consists of 5 towers and includes highly equipped Referential laboratories which provide advanced diagnoses services in viruses and epidemic diseases.
Regional Laboratories in Areas and Provinces
The Ministry aims to execute Regional Laboratories in Health Areas and Provinces. These laboratories will be separated compounds which include Medical Laboratories Administration, Central Blood Bank, Poison Centre, legitimacy Chemistry, General Health Laboratory and advanced Medical laboratory. The Project's first phase cost and equip are approved and included in 14271428 Ministry's budget in 7 areas and provinces, which are Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, AL Qasim, Hafar Al Batin, Hasa and Jazan.
Lately, the Ministry supported medical laboratories in all areas with advanced medical examination equipment. In addition of equipping main areas laboratories with all Hemorrhagic examinations requirements using Polymerization reactions which helped in combating swine flue.
The Ministry issued a comprehensive study for evaluating blood Banks in all Governmental and Private Sectors with the cooperation of Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
Chemicals and Toxicology Centers were opened in each of Makkah and Aseer where finding a supporting and operating program for such centers is still in progress in order to meet the Centers needs and develop performance. A specialized work team was formed to staudy and discusses means of advancing these Centers where the concerned committee meets periodically since 1427 and examined 171426 sample and 96788 cases during 1430.