With the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, His Royal Highness the Governor of the Northern Border Province, Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Msa'ed, opened yesterday a number of health projects, including the Psychiatry and Addiction Hospital and eight health centers, in addition to the inauguration of the development work of Prince Abdullah bin Abdullah bin Msa'ed Cardiac Center, so as to raise its bed capacity from 200 to 300 beds. These projects include, also, 88 outpatient clinics. That is to be added to approving the hospital's employment program. His Royal Highness has also lain the foundation of a dialysis center (with a capacity of 30 chairs), as well as five advanced medical supply warehouses, and many other health and developmental projects at a total cost of over SR billion.
In his speech delivered before the inauguration, Dr. Al-Rabeeah said, “On this pleasant occasion, as we celebrate the inauguration of such promising health projects for the benefit of the people of the Northern Border Province, who are near and dear to all of us, I would like to welcome all the attendants. These projects come within the MOH's strenuous efforts to provide best-quality health services for all the citizens and residents of our generous country.”
“In compliance with the directives given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” Dr. Al-Rabeeah added, “the Ministry of Health (MOH) has developed its strategy for the upcoming ten years, based on the National Project for Comprehensive and Integrated Health Care. This project has laid down the standards which have always served as landmarks on the MOH's path towards the sought-after healthcare level throughout the Kingdom.”
He went on to say, “Today, we are celebrating the inauguration of the Psychiatry and Addiction Hospital and eight health centers, in addition to the inauguration of the development work of Prince Abdullah bin Abdullah bin Msa'ed Cardiac Center, so as to raise its bed capacity from 200 to 300 beds. These projects include, also, 88 outpatient clinics. That is to be added to approving the hospital's employment program. His Royal Highness has also lain the foundation of a dialysis center (with a capacity of 30 chairs), as well as five advanced medical supply warehouses, and many other health and developmental projects at a total cost of over SR billion. Still, these projects shall be followed by many other projects aiming to realize the Ministry's strategic objectives, which have been approved by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allâh protect him.”
Besides, Dr. Al-Rabeeah made clear that the Ministry of Health, while involved in the establishment of such projects, has been always keeping an eye on, and paying close attention to, the urgent development programs meant to preserve patients' health and well-being, as well as gaining their satisfaction. Among such programs are the Patient Relations and Rights Program, Bed Management Program, Day Surgery Program, Home Medicine Program, Visiting Doctor Program, Clinical Visits, Quality and Accreditation; to mention just a few useful healthcare programs.
He emphasized, also, that MOH has embraced the principle of institutional work, based on collective decision, and given rise to dialogue and transparency. It has also adopted financial, administrative and technical development in its broadest sense, aside from the development of all health-related and technical programs.
As his speech drew to a close, His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, expressed his sincere gratitude to the His Royal Highness the Governor of the Northern Border Province, Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Msa'ed (under whose auspices the generous inauguration was held), for his unstinting support for the Province's projects. He also extended his thanks to all the authorities that took part in supporting projects in this province, including the various ministries and governmental and non-governmental bodies, as well as the people of this dear province.
For his part, the Director General of Health Affairs in the Northern Border Province, Dr. Mohammed Al-Habadan, said that, proceeding from the colossal support of the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for health projects in the “Kingdom of Humanity”, and the continuous follow-up of His Royal Highness the Governor of the Northern Border Province, in addition to the unending support of His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, as well as the deputies minister, all the healthcare services provided in the province have been improved and developed, including infrastructure, equipment, manpower and training, in a way that bring into effect the MOH's vision, as manifested in the National Healthcare Strategy.
“Today,” said Dr. Al-Habadan, “we are celebrating the inauguration of specialized health projects, peculiarly established to address the requirements of the targeted group, and realize the highest and most advanced quality and infection control standards. We are also celebrating laying the foundation of housing projects, which are considered one of the main pillars intended for housing physicians with rare specialties and their families. That is to be added to the establishment of the province's medical supply warehouses. The province, thank goodness, has been chosen for the first strategic medicine storage, based on the internal shelving system, which is the first of its kind in the entire Kingdom. Furthermore, the bed capacity of the Maternity and Children Hospital has been raised from 200 to 300 beds. Also, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has approved increasing the budget of Change Orders, in addition to the establishment of a new building for outpatient clinics (88 clinics).”
Dr. Al-Habadan, besides, shed light on the partnership agreement signed with the Northern Border University, with the aim at housing doctors with rare medical and assistant specialties.
“We have partners who took part in the accomplishment of such success,” Dr. Al-Habadan added. “And these partners have proven for me, as well as my colleagues in the Health Affairs General Directorate in the Northern Border Province, that we are proceeding on the right track, and that our tendency towards cooperation with colleagues in the Ministry of Health, as well as other governmental sectors, has been the right choice.”
He went on to say, “We are happy to work in cooperation with our loyal community members, who have been dedicated to their voluntary responsibilities, making optimal use of their skills, talents, and capabilities for the benefit of their society. Allow me to single out Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Rajhi, Sheikh Solaiman bin Saleh Al-Mohaileb, and his offspring, and Soliaman Al-Rajhi Charity, who have made every effort to support and care for psychiatric patients, who are dear to all of us. I hereby extend my sincere thanks to them, and pray for Allâh to reward them.
It should be noted that, during the inauguration, a partnership agreement was signed with the Northern Border University. Also, gifts and souvenirs were given out.