The Ministry of Health (MOH) is currently carrying out 13 new projects for the medical rehabilitation centers, and the sections of physiotherapy, and artificial limbs. This is to support the development of medical rehabilitation services provided to patients throughout the Kingdom’s regions.
The Director General of MOH Medical Rehabilitation, Dr. Ali bin Sa’d Al-Qarni, has mentioned that the Ministry has embarked on the development of 3 medical rehabilitation centers in Hafr al-Baatin, Aseer, and Qaseem, in addition to 8 physiotherapy sections in Riyadh, Jeddah, Taif, and Al-Qunfudah, as well as 2 prosthetic sections in Riyadh and Al-Ahsa.
Dr. Al-Qarni went on adding that 19 physiotherapy sections are currently being established in Riyadh, the Holy city of Makkah, the Eastern Region, Jeddah, Al-Baha, Jaazan, Hail, Qaseem, Taif, and Arar, in addition to 3 integrated medical rehabilitation centers in Hafr Al-Batin, and Al-Jawf, as well as 4 prosthetic sections in Jawf, Al-Baha, Taif, Arar, and a speech-language pathology center in Al-Baha, and an ear care center in Tabuk. He also pointed out that the MOH is currently initiating expansion projects of 4 physiotherapy sections at King Saud Medical City (KSMC) in Riyadh, the Holy city of Makka, al-Qaseem, and Al-Qunfudah; that is to be added to an expansion to the prosthetic department at KSMC in Riyadh.
Dr. Al Qarni highlighted that the MOH is currently providing medical rehabilitation services to patients via two specialist hospitals, the Medical Rehabilitation Hospital in Madina, and the Medical Rehabilitation Hospital at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh. Both Hospitals are supported by 256 sections and specialist centers for medical rehabilitation in the Kingdom’s governorates and health directorates.
Furthermore, Al-Qarni has pointed out that there are 194 physiotherapy sections in the MOH hospitals, 33 sections for occupational therapy, 21 sections for prosthetic limbs and devices, and 7 speech-language pathology centers.
Within the same vein, Al-Qarni also pointed out that during the past two years, the MOH have conducted 33 training courses for staff in the medical rehabilitation services, comprising 339 hours of continual teaching accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS). Over the current year (1434 H), 17 training courses have been conducted to develop the competency of personnel in this area, noting that the number of beneficiaries of these courses reached 990 specialists and technicians working in the Ministry's hospitals, centers and medical rehabilitation departments. In the mean time, 48 scholarships of various medical disciplines have been granted, covering the degrees of Ph.D., masters and BA.