Yesterday, April 8th, 2012, His Royal Highness the Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz, received at his office His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah.

 

Prince Sattam started his meeting with Dr. Al-Rabeeah by discussing the topics related to health projects in Riyadh Region. Then he patronized the ceremony of signing the contracts of 3 medical towers in King Saud Medical City (KSMC), in addition to Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Hospital and Al-Eman General Hospital, at a total cost of SR 967.529.076, and with a capacity of over 800 beds. It followed that he watched the presentation of new health projects in Riyadh Region.

 

For his part, Dr. Al-Rabeeah pointed out during the presentation that a considerable proportion of health projects (both preventive and curative) has been devoted to Riyadh Region, so as to be concordant with the population growth throughout the Region's cities and provinces, within the framework of the National Project for Integrated and Comprehensive Health Care. He also noted that some of these projects are still in progress, undergoing their final phases, such as: Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital – Riyadh (500 beds), Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal (200 beds), Al-Quwai'eiyah General Hospital (200 beds), the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital – Al-Kharj (200 beds), the building of Riyadh's Health Affairs General Directorate, Al-Bejadeyah General Hospital (50 beds), Darma Hospital (50 beds), Al-Artaweyah General Hospital (50 beds), Al-Mezahemeyah Hospital (50 beds).

 

Dr. Al-Rabeeah, then, moved on to the health projects currently underway, including Northern Riyadh Hospital (300 beds), Mental Health Hospital – Al-Kharj (200 beds), Hota Sedair Hospital (150 beds), and Rowidah al-'Areed (50 beds).

 

Dr. Al-Rabeeah went on to say that there is a number of projects to be approved as part of the MOH Budget for this year (1433H), including Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Hospital (500 beds), 15 comprehensive clinics in Riyadh, Al-Kharj General Hospital (300 beds), Al-Saleel Hospital (200 beds), Afif General Hospital (200 beds), Rimah Hospital (50 beds), Helban Hospital (50 beds), Dar Al-Ekhaa Psychiatric Hospital, Western Riyadh Hospital (500 beds), Mental Health Hospital – Riyadh (500 beds), the Medical Tower at Al-Yamamah Hospital (500 beds).

 

As for primary health care, Dr. Al-Rabeeah made clear that primary healthcare coverage is planned to extend all over the Region, through primary health care centers, in four phases, the first two phases of which have been accomplished. By the end of the fourth phase, the number of the Region's primary healthcare centers would be 256 centers.

 

He added, “The total cost of these projects is over SR 6.096.000.000. This large number of health projects will effectively contribute to the improvement of health services provided in the region, and alleviating pressure on Riyadh's central hospitals, as well as facilitating access to healthcare services to the Region's people.”

 

It is worth mentioning that the signature ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister for Health Affairs, Dr. Mansour bin Nasser Al-Howasi, the Deputy Minister for Planning and Development, Dr. Mohammed bin Hamzah Khushaim, the Head of Project Center at the Higher Commission for the Development of Riyadh City, Eng. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Sultan, and the Director-General of Riyadh Health Affairs General Directorate, Dr. Adnan bin Soliman Al-Abdulkareem, as well as a number of the MOH officials.