His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, signed today the contract of establishing a number of specialized medical centers at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), at a total cost of SR 1.187 billion. He also patronized the signing of a contract to establish the National Center for Particle Therapy at KFMC, specialized in the treatment of tumors using the proton technology, at a cost of SR 277.6 million.
His Excellency the Minister of Health expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allah protect them, for their unstinting support for health services. Meanwhile, he pointed out that this step comes within the framework of the Ministry's strenuous efforts to provide high-quality healthcare services for citizens, thus enacting the Royal Decree No. 66/A, dated 18/3/2011, prescribing the expansion of medical cities and specialist hospitals throughout the Kingdom.
For his part, the CEO of King Fahad Medical City, Dr. Abdullah Al-Amr, pointed out that the contract signed by the Minister of Health covers the establishing of a number of specialized medical centers at KFMC. They are: Cancer Comprehensive Center, the National Center for Neuroscience, the expansion of Prince Salman Cardiac Center, Stem Cell Research Center, and the Laboratories and Offices Building, at a total cost of SR 1.187 billion. The contract was signed with Al-Latifia Trading and Contracting Co., in cooperation with Lighton Middle East Co.
Dr. Al-Amr went on to say that the second contract patronized by the Minister includes the establishing of the National Center for Particle Therapy, signed between the Saudi Center for Particle Therapy and Al-Latifia Trading and Contracting Co., in cooperation with Lighton Middle East Co., at a total cost of SR 277.6 million.
Al-Amr further expounded that signing the contracts of establishing specialized medical centers has been prescribed by the Royal Decree stipulating the expansion of medical cities and specialist hospitals, in an endeavor to develop and improve the health services provided to patients. It has also received big support from His Excellency the Minister of Health, who pays colossal attention to all the projects meant to provide curative services for people. “As for the National Center for Particle Therapy,” he continued, “it is intended to strengthen the role of the health sector, by achieving integration with the governmental sector in the provision of health services, and taking part in the establishing, operation and management of health facilities and development projects. To that end, the Ministry of Health has been keen to encourage the involvement of the private health sector in management and financing, as well as the equipment of governmental facilities, and owning the joint stock companies specialized in the operation of health facilities. That's to be added to encouraging the national industrial growth in the health field, by granting the stimulating privileges to encourage investment in that domain, which will be reflected in the development and improvement.”
Dr. Al-Amr added, “The National Center for Particle Therapy will be established in cooperation with the private sector. The consortium will construct, equip and operate the center. After that, the King Fahad Medical City will take over its ownership. It will help patients by using an advanced technology, which will contribute to reduce their stay at hospitals, as well as speeding up their recovery from tumors, Allah willing.”