His Excellency the Vice Minister for Planning and Development, Dr. Mohammed Khushaim affirmed that the Ministry of Health (MOH) approximates the European rate in terms of the number of beds standing at 3,4 beds for every thousand people of the population, compared to the number of population. This is to take place by inaugurating 45 hospitals in the next two years and establish 140 hospitals in the next five years.
He pointed out that the numbers of the MOH's beds dramaticallyrose during the past five years, wholeheartedly supportedby our rulers, may Allah protect them. In 1430H, their number was 32222 beds in 224 hospitals whereas the number of beds related to the MOH rose up to 38970 beds from 1430H to 1435 through adding 7658 new beds in 48 hospitals and 2537 restored ones in 24 hospitals. In addition to this, the King Abdullah medical City, providing advanced specialized and reference services of the fourth level was inaugurated and operated in Makkah.
He went on to add that the next five years and till 1440H-2020, the Kingdom's regions will see major expansion in terms of the number of beds, bringing the total number of the MOH's beds to 73678 beds in 357 hospitals after getting these projects finished and operated. This is through adding 22330 beds in the newly-established hospitals and over 6168 ones in the restored hospitals. This aggregates 28498 beds, as well as the beds of the medical cities, 6200 ones.
He also made clear that the proportion of the MOH's beds for every thousand people of the population in the year reached about 1, 29 for every thousand people of the population. As regards its current proportion in the entire health sectors, it stands at 2, 1 for every thousand people of the population.
Meanwhile, he noted that currently, the total number of the MOH's beds amounted to 38970 beds, and in the other governmental sectors it stood at 11, 043 beds. This brings the total number of beds in the different health sectors, todate, to 64, 188 beds; representing the proportion of 2, 1 for every thousand people of the population.
Within the same vein, he remarked that such proportion is low and all the sectors working on increasing it and materializing the state's vision in line with the tenth development plan. He went on pointing out that the entire kingdom's health sectors, with the MOH included, will witness remarkable progress during the next five years and till 1440H. In that regard, it is expected that the number of the MOH's beds will reach up to 73678 ones, and in the other governmental sectors they are expected to become about 26000 ones. As regards the number of beds in the private sector, they will rise up to 20 thousand beds, making the average of what we project for the entire Kingdom's health sectors over 119, 678 beds. This willin turn bring the proportion of beds to the number of population to 3, 4 of every thousand people of the population. This is quite acceptable proportion according to the European rate of the beds compared to the number of population.
He went on adding that the number of hospitals, medical towers, and specialized centers, to be operated and inaugurated during the current and next year, is 45 hospitals, and this will add up to 4890 new beds and 3110 restored beds. This totals eight thousand beds. Meanwhile, the number of beds is to be distributed as follows: two hospitals with 500 bed capacity, two hospitals with 400 bed capacity, eight hospitals with a 300 bed capacity, 13 hospitals with a 200 bed capacity, seven hospitals with a 100 bed capacity, 13 hospitals with a 50 bed capacity and a national laboratory. As far as gender is concerned, there will be three gynecology and obstetrics hospitals with aeight hundred bed capacity, 34 public hospitals with a 5300 bed capacity, and eight psychological health hospitals with a 1900 bed capacity.
In the meantime, the new projects, to be inaugurated during this year and next one in Riyadh, included going up the second tower of the King Saud Medical Hospital, maternity and children hospital, psychological health hospital in Al-Kharj, and public hospital in Al-Muzahmiyya, Artawiyah, and Rwuaidah Al-A'ard. In Makkah, there will be a medical tower in the King Faisal Hospital; in Ta'if there will be a maternity and children tower. In addition to this, there will be the King Abdulaziz tower in Al-zaher, a hospital in the south of Al Qunfudhah, Namera hospital in Al Qunfudhah, Mudilif hospital, East Jeddah hospital, and Umm Aldoomand Allaith hospital.
In the Eastern Region, it will be opened a psychological health hospital in Dammam, King Faisal hospital in Al-Ahsa, Prince Saud bin Jalawi hospital in Al-Ahsa, and Al-Bathaa hospital. In Al-Qassim, Buraidah medical tower, psychological health hospital, UyunAlJiw hospital, and Alqwarah hospitalwill be inaugurated. As regards Tabuk, there will be King Fahad specialized hospital with 500 bed capacity, Duba and Umluj hospital, and psychological health hospital.
In Jizan, it will be inaugurated the psychological health hospital, Prince Mohammed bin Nasser hospital. And in Najran, the Najran public hospital, Khbache hospital, and psychological health hospital will be opened.
In Ha'il, it will be opened a psychological health hospital and Alhait hospital. And in Al-Jawf, there will be established a medical tower of the Prince Mutaib hospital, King Abdulaziz hospital in Sakakah, and Miqua hospital.
In Madinah, it will be inaugurated the Khaybar hospital and psychological health hospital. In Al-bahah, it will be opened Baljurashi hospital and Makhwah hospital, and in Asir there will be a hospital in Ahhadrefaidah and Sabt Alya hospital. As regards the Northern Borders, it will be opened a maternity and children hospital and Aljadidah hospital.
He went on to point out that from 1430H till the end of 1434H, the MOH went up 824 new centers.
He also added that the infant mortality rate declined from 22 infants out ofevery thousand people of the population in 2006 to eight infants in 2013. Further, the mortality rate of the less-than five year children lowered from 27 children out of thousand people of the population to nine children out of thousand people of the population in 2013. In addition to this, the neonate mortality rate reduced from 12 out of every 1000 neonates in 2006 to 5 out of every 1000 neonates in 2013.
All the more, the maternity mortality rate declined from 23 deaths out of every 100,000 births in 2006 to 14 deaths out of every 100,000 in 2013. He went on adding that these are the indicators of the World Health Organization (WHO) which are used for gauging how advanced the health care among states is.
Adding in that the MOH is currently building and equipping three cardiac diseases and surgery centers in Tabuk, Jizan, and Ta'if. They are to be added to the nine specialized centers located in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Al-Ahasa, Dammam, Al-Qassim, Najran, Northern Borders, and Ha'il. It is also establishing four tumor - treating centers in Madinah, Ha'il, and Jizan. They are to be added to the current centers located in Riyadh, Al-Qassim, Makkah, and Eastern Region.