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Minister of Health Inaugurates the First Patient Relations Symposium

23 November 2011

His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, said, “It is beyond doubt that the Ministry of Health, whilst making every effort to provide the best and fullest healthcare services, and gain their satisfaction, is in fact abiding by the directions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, May Allah protect him, who has been always prioritizing citizens' health, and prompting to bring about all that is good for them. I hereby quote His Royal Highness's gratifying word which is permanently resonating in our minds: (Nothing is more precious than citizens' health.)”

On his part, and on part of all citizens and officials, Dr. Al-Rabeeah extended his deepest, grandest and most sincere thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, praying for Allah to guide the Ministry of Health to gain His satisfaction in the first place, and fulfill the aspirations of the Wise Leadership.

On inaugurating the First Patient Relations Symposium, held on November 21, 2011, with the participation of the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights Commission, along with several health sectors (both governmental and private), Dr. Al-Rabeeah stated that this symposium, which is reckoned the first of its kind in the whole region, is an embodiment of colossal attention paid by the Government of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allah protect them, to the citizens and residents of this beloved country, as well as preserving their rights and removing the obstacles and hardships encountering them.

“Proceeding from such principles and values,” Dr. Al-Rabeeah continued, “the Ministry of Health has established the Patient Relations General Department, with the aim to be a connecting link between the service provider and its beneficiaries, in addition to removing all the hardships encountering patients, receiving their propositions, preserving their rights, and the like. And for the purpose of underscoring the importance of the role of this department, it has been connected to the higher department at the Ministry.”

It is worth mentioning, in this respect, that His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, has announced the modification of the Patient Relations General Department, to be “Patient Relations and Rights General Department,” so as to attain the true objective of the department and cope with the world's new conceptions.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah went on to say that the Ministry of Health, through its various services, has always been showing keen interest in patients, maintaining their health and well-being, and endeavoring to gain their satisfaction. It was for these reasons, he added, that the Ministry, in its plans, has placed special emphasis on the fulfillment of the Saudi citizen, pointing out that the theme of the symposium “Patient First!” is essentially meant to convey a message to all health practitioners in the Kingdom of Humanity on the crucial importance of pursuing (and complying with) this course of action.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah made clear that the Ministry, in this very context, has launched several important initiatives and programs, among which are the weekly open official meetings, and the annual consultative meetings between the service providers and beneficiaries, in addition to the studies investigating to what extent the service is satisfactory, the Nation's Voice Initiative (Sawt Al-Watan), and many other initiatives comprising an integrate a complete system and a strategic plan for the ten years to come, basically depending on the National Project for Integrated and Comprehensive Healthcare, in pursuit of the accomplishment of the new health care conception after adopting it, in concordance with the directions given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, May Allah protect him.