The Deputy Ministry of Health for Medical Supply and Engineering Affairs, Dr. Salah bin Fahad Al-Mazrou, stated that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has reviewed, processed and offered 313 tenders with a total cost of SR 7,12 billion during the past year (1434H) through the Electronic Processing program. Dr. Al-Mazrou also pointed out that the MOH has made many achievements during the last year; as it applied the Electronic Applications, Tenders and Analysis Program to all MOH's hospitals and primary health care centers with the support of Saudi citizens and the Equipment General Department.
It is worth mentioning that this program is the first of its kind in the health sector and comes within MOH's efforts to convert most works of the department into an electronic form.
“We contact with all regions to approve the medical planning that suits their needs. Thus, the Ministry will get rid of paper applications and correspondences when requesting certain equipments,” Dr. Al-Mazrou said.
Within the same vein, Dr. Al-Mazrou highlighted that the time consumed in preparing and processing the hospital was shortened to 3 minutes. Besides, the processing standard has been adopted for all hospitals (with bed capacity of: 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500), covering all specialties (general, mental and children's hospitals). As many items as 2.719 have been already supplied, as opposed to only 600 items two years ago. In the course of only six months, the number of items has increased by 30 percent, from 1960 medical and non-medical items; not to forget the specifications set by the MOH, which have been made available via e-mail for all companies and institutions throughout the year. Objections are received via e-mail as well, and addressed in a way that benefits MOH patients the most.
According to Dr. al-Mazrou, the technical analysis has been provided for twenty hospitals: including 100-bed hospitals (in Dubaa, Omloj and Khaibar), a 200-bed hospital (Saud bin Jalawi Hospital), a 500-bed hospital (Dammam Mental Hospital), and a 300-bed hospital (Eastern Jeddah Hospital), in addition to ten 50-bed hospitals, King Faisal Hospital in al-Shesha, King Abdulaziz Hospital in al-Zaher and Jeddah Medical Tower.
In addition, nine hospitals with various capacities have been offered: including four 200-bed hospitals (in Najran, Tabouk, Hail and al-Kharj), four 100-bed hospitals (in al-Laith, Oyoun al-Jawa, Sabt al-Alaya, and Ohud Rufaidah), and King Faisal Hospital in al-Ahsa (accommodating 200 beds).
Dr. al-Mazrou further expounded that, in cooperation with the Health Facilities Infection Control General Department, the sterilization sections of 35 hospitals have been renovated in accordance with the new international standard, and tenders of other 40 hospitals have been offered, the technical committees of which will complete their work over the upcoming weeks.
Over and above, the Saudi Global Library for Medical Devices has been prepared. It contains 23.000 products, from 3.360 manufacturers, thus maintaining its place as the world's second largest library of that kind (the first being the American Atania Co.). It has been updates with products of less than ten years of age. The library, with the support of His Excellency the Minister of Health, is projected to be the world's largest of its kind over 18 months. He also mentioned that a large number of suppliers (550 companies / institutions) have been linked with the library via the Electronic Processing Program.