In its 2017 achievements report, MOH has included 65 new healthcare centers, bringing the total number of healthcare centers to 2,390 instead of 2,325. These centers, which have been enhanced with all required manpower, equipment and supplies, helped to provide more accessible health service to over 300,000 citizens. Likewise, working hours in 39 new healthcare centers have been extended to 11 pm; thus, making 204 healthcare centers operate until this time instead of 165 centers. In order to reach a comprehensive coverage, to reduce congestion and to satisfy citizens, MOH has enhanced the centers with well-trained doctors, medical and technical staff, as well as providing security services at the on-duty centers.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Health, in line with its contribution to achieve the target of the National Transformation Program 2020, has launched the initiative of (reforming and restructuring the primary healthcare), as part of 40 initiatives designed to develop and improve the Kingdom's healthcare services and facilities to meet the needs of the community and the expectations of our righteous leader - may Allah protect him.
This new initiative aims to provide advanced outstanding primary healthcare services, to boost satisfaction with this sector's services, and to foster the outpatients' trust in health services. The initiative also seeks to restore confidence in primary healthcare centers, given the growing numbers of outpatients, to ensure accessibility to all beneficiaries to reduce the burden on different health professionals, to boost the preventive measures, and provide facility-based health services, in addition to reducing congestion on emergency departments and outpatient clinics.
MOH has recently launched the new design templates of primary healthcare centers at As-Sulaimaniyah, Al-Wadi, Al-Khaleej, Al-Murabba and Al-Mansourah. All are model centers. Also, all MOH's centers will be rehabilitated with similar templates. New centers will be set up. The news centers will provide all preventive, health and community services, while complying with CBAHI's standards. The services include consultation clinics, primary mental clinics, as well as other services such as immunization, maternity care, family medicine and early detection of chronic diseases. Also, the community will be engaged by creating community council to take part in planning health services. Each center will incorporate a training center for family medicine fellowship with a unified e-record database. The new centers feature a modern architectural style the required safety supplies. It’s noted that the work is currently underway to start the stage of mega centers according to MOH-approved medial facility identity.