Makkah Health Affairs General Directorate has set up the annual ceremony for the heads of medical missions of the Islamic countries participating in the Hajj season of this year, whose total number amounts to 35 countries.
The Deputy Director General of Makkah Health Affairs Directorate, Dr. Ahmed Banjar, said that the participation of these missions aims at discussing with them the receipt of the patient pilgrims affiliating to their countries in the Saudi hospitals.
Meanwhile, Dr. Banjar underscored that the Medical Missions Committee is the body liable for coordinating with those missions, and making sure that all the necessary requirements are met so that the missions can obtain the legal permits, stressing that the heads and officials of the medical missions have had a look over the great efforts exerted by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allah protect him, as well as the services provided for the pilgrims in the field of healthcare.
The Head of the Egyptian Medical Mission, Dr. Mahmoud Mustafa, has delivered a word on behalf of the heads of the medical missions in which he illustrated that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has provided support and simplified procedures of obtaining permits, adding that the Saudi Arabia has undertaken to treat all patients in the Holy Sites on its own expense, and to refer patients to its hospitals.
On the other hand, the Head of the Medical Mission Committee, Dr. Mohamed Hamed al-Mehamadi, said that one of the most important requirements to be met by any medical mission is to contract with a specialized company in the safe disposal of medical wastes, in order to preserve the health and safety of pilgrims, Allah willing, in addition to the safety of locations and their suitability for the requirements.
Dr. al-Mehamadi further stressed that the most important criterion upon which the granting of permits for medical missions can be allowed or rejected, is the safe disposal of medical wastes. Afterwards, the attendants watched a visual presentation on preventive medicine and public health.