“We are expecting the first batch of Cuban consultant physicians in rare medical specialties following the Eid, to commence work in the Kingdom, which has recently signed an agreement with Cuba to that effect,” said Dr. Aqeel Jam'an, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Curative Medicine and Hospitals.
It is worth mentioning, the agreement was signed in Sha'ban under the auspices of the Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development, Dr. Mohamed Khoshaim. Standing for the Kingdom in the agreement was Dr. Aqeel Jam'an, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Curative Medicine and Hospitals, whereas the Cuban Ambassador to KSA, Mr. Enrique Enriquez, represented Cuba.
According to Dr. al-Ghamdi, this batch is comprised of thirty consultant physicians, planned to work in the Kingdom temporarily (for three months), after which they will be leaving back home, to be substituted by another group to work for an analogous period, and so on and so forth. “That's to say,” al-Ghamdi explained, “we will be receiving four batches a year. However, the number of each batch will be different from the other, and generally speaking, they will be substantially larger from this first batch. Batches will continue to hail from Cuba all through the agreement period (three years, subject to renewal for similar periods).”
Al-Ghamdi went on to say, “These physicians are hired in the Kingdom within the framework of the program: 'Visiting Physicians Program', designed to particularly cater to the Ministry's needs, with a view to temporarily attract high-profile consultant physicians in rare medical specialties to the Kingdom's main and peripheral hospitals. Given the scarcity of those specialized in such medical majors, there is high demand on them, with the aim to meet the miscellaneous medical needs of citizens across the Kingdom.”
Dr. al-Ghamdi pointed out that the first batch includes physicians covering twelve rare specialties, encompassing anesthesia, neurosurgery, retina surgery, and neonatal surgery. Among the tasks they are to assume is examining patients and following them up, and reviewing the work policies and procedures at the sections where they are assigned to work, as well as educating and training health workers.
It didn't escape Dr. al-Ghamdi's notice to shed light on the 'Visiting Physicians Program', which, according to him, is not limited to the attraction of physicians only from Cuba, but also from countries which boast the high standard of their physicians, in case the Kingdom shows need for them. “High standards are considered when choosing a visiting physician: he must be a consultant physician who has proven dexterous in his area of action, he must also be a man of virtue and high morals,” al-Ghamdi said. “In addition he has to present proof of good command of English, and be willing to temporarily work at the Kingdom.”
As his statement came to a close, al-Ghamdi mentioned that the 'Visiting Physicians Program' is currently cooperating with a number of countries, including Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, USA, and European countries. Cooperation, however, is not confined to foreign physicians, as national physicians are engaged as well. The program, according to Dr. al-Ghamdi, has attracted over 2130 physicians since its establishment two years ago. They managed to examine ant treat tens of thousands of patiens throughout the Kingdom.