In one consolidated voice, stemming from our consensual hearts, we're proud to be celebrating today the Seventh Anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, May Allâh protect him, and his inauguration King of Saudi Arabia. It goes without saying that this one of the dearest occasions to all Saudi citizens, given the great love and appreciation we all bear towards him.
Since the Pledge of Allegiance to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the development process has been progressing vigorously, covering all the Kingdom's regions, and all aspects of life (political, social, educational, economic, cultural and health aspects).
As commander of the development process, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allâh protect them, have been always showing keen interest in providing unstinting support for all society segments, and entrenching the pillars of permanent development in the fields of health, education, social affairs, as well as industrial and commercial infrastructure. In so doing, they are looking forward to developing Saudi citizens, and provide more and more jobs for them, meanwhile placing particular emphasis on the balanced development of all regions and sectors.
People's health ranks as one of His Royal Highness King Abdullah's top priorities. This is a crystal-clear fact in light of the generous support dedicated to health services, which had the greatest impact on the development on the preventive, curative and rehabilitative health service provided to all citizens, residents, and pilgrims.
Based on (and proceeding from) the health vision set by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and at his Royal Direction to provide best-quality health services for patients, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has assumed the responsibility of the promotion of healthcare to the highest levels possible, with a view to the fulfillment of the Leadership's aspirations, and meeting citizens' expectations, by serving them and gaining their satisfaction. In this spirit, the Ministry has set its strategy for the ten years to come, assigning the tasks of each MOH sector, along with mechanisms of application.
The Ministry intends, through its strategic plan, to double the culminative number of beds, from 34.000 to 66.000 beds, over the upcoming years, by opening new general and specialized hospitals, in addition to the medical cities established at the direction of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This expansion will be followed by comprehensive development and enormous increase of primary healthcare centers in terms of ambulatory services. Moreover, the Ministry has managed to achieve a paradigm shift in awareness programs. To that end, it has introduced and developed several programs to improve quality (both medical and administrative), such as the Patient Rights and Relations Program, the Bed Management Program, the Clinical Audit Program, the Day Surgery Program, and the Home Medicine Program. The Ministry, besides, has paid close attention to the automation of health systems and IT programs, as well as consolidating the concept of electronic health (e-health).
As a matter of fact, the National Project for Integrated and Comprehensive Healthcare stands out as the cornerstone of the strategic plan. It has been based on the orders given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, with the aim to achieve the values of justice and comprehensiveness by way of the equitable and scientific distribution of health services to all the Kingdom's regions and provinces.
I pray for Allâh Almighty to bestow health on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, perpetuate the safety and stability of our dear Kingdom, and help us fulfill their expectations and aspirations. He listens and responds.