In the presence of His Excellency the Health Minister, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has celebrated today (Sunday) the 10th anniversary of the home healthcare program. The ceremony honored the Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor-General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabiah for his efforts and effective contribution in establishing the program during his tenure at MOH.
In a statement, Al-Rabiah said that the home healthcare is an outstanding humanitarian service and has become one of the pillars of medical services. "Medicine has started at homes and now returning to homes with a new principle of empowering patient and his family", he said, pointing out that the program targets patients with certain chronic diseases and provides them with therapeutic and health services at their homes. At the beginning, 221 employees and 45 medical teams provided the service to 1,450 patients at 35 hospitals. "So far, after 10 years of continuous development, 2,354 employees and 394 medical teams are serving 32,458 patients at 233 hospitals (34,190 home visits)". Currently, the home healthcare program provides outstanding specialized services including psychological services, venous therapy, and vaccination of influenza patients at home, he added.
He said, "Over the past ten years, MOH has been keen to enhance the health staff's skills through the accreditation of home healthcare doctor diploma, home healthcare nursing diploma, Madinah home healthcare center by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS), home healthcare diploma and nursing trainers across the Kingdom".
He confirmed that MOH seeks to expand the services to cover needy patients, to create home healthcare platform and to communicate with patients remotely.
Al-Rabiah thanked all those who contributed to the establishment and success of the service. At the end of the ceremony, he honored a number of leaders and shareholders for supporting the program since its inception until now.