2nd Consultative Meeting for Ministry of Health Officials, Held in Dammam, agreed on the importance of allocating a special phone number (2124224) for health services beneficiaries' complaints and suggestions as well as answering their questions and inquiries. Minister of Health Spokesman, Dr, Khaled Mergelani, clarified that this number will be available 24 hours, and will be operated during official working hours, then will continue to receive their inquiries and complaints through the answering machine in order to answer them later during working hours.
Minister of Health Officials confirmed during the meeting on the importance of enhancing curative, preventative and ambulance health services which was launched last year and received great responds, such as Patient Relation Program where its services are provided through more than 700 employees and served 3700 citizens and residents through interviews, media, fax or Citizen Voice website.
The Meeting participants discussed the need of developing Domestic Medicine Program which services were provided during home visitations (about 6000 patients most suffers from chronic diseases). Emergency Services Program was also included and reached more than 4650 cases including medical evacuation from the Kingdoms' areas and provinces to referral and specialized hospitals.
Dr. Mergelani stated that One Day Surgery Program were supported, where more than 34.000 surgery were performed in the Kingdom's hospitals. The Meeting also discussed supporting Visiting Doctor Program launched by the Ministry and included rare specialty consultants from the Ministries of Health in Jordan and Egypt and Surgeons College in Pakistan.
More than 300 foreign consultants were hired last year as well as 500 national consultants through long term contracts. He also added that the Ministry made a complete review for technical, administrative and job description for their employees and suitability of such jobs and qualifications.
Moreover, the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Rabeeah pointed out that the Meeting, which concluded last Thursday in Dammam and lasted for two days, had discussed preventative and development programs.
Such programs covers Infection Control and Sterilization Program in all Kingdom's hospitals and dental centers, which includes observing and updating sterilization and equipment infrastructure as well as developing employees' job competencies in both Infection Control and Sterilization Departments.
He also pointed out his commitment to Vaccinations National Program which competes with other similar programs in developed countries and covered 97% beneficiaries. He also added that the Kingdom is proud of controlling Poliomyelitis and Tetanus and welling to control Measles in GCC and Middle East countries during the upcoming year.
Moreover, specialized medical centers were established to control contagious diseases, such as Vector Control National Centre in Jazan, since the assigned budget was approved to develop the Centre with the collaboration of international universities experienced in mosquito-borne diseases, i.e. Dengue Fever, Malaria and Alkhurma Hemorrhagic Fever.
In addition of approving the Riyadh's National Laboratory' budget which consist of 4th level laboratories specialized in highly infectious viruses and germs and will be considered the only of its kind in the Middle East. The Ministry of Health has also show interest in non contagious diseases prevention and adopted specialized preventive programs in cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, accidents, obesity, premarital medical examinations and newborn examinations.
Dr. Al Rabeeah directed the Ministry Officials to communicate continuously areas' directorates in order to overcome the faced obstacles and report delayed procedures. He also viewed during the meeting a number of Health Affairs' successful experiences in areas and provinces, in addition of introducing Ministry's and areas' officials suggestions for discussion.
He concluded the meeting by emphasizing on a number of significant issues such as Clinical Measurement Indicators in hospitals as well as follow up and support different quality programs and CBAHI in hospitals in order to follow up performance progress, prevent medical errors and monitor doctors productivity by the number of performed surgeries, consultations or other needed procedures which highlights employees achievements.