According to Hail Health Affairs, the regional laboratory and blood banks conducted 141,796 laboratory tests last year (1438H.), including 3,421 tox, 28,066 hormone, 15,378 serum, 37 immunity, 79,657 viruse, 15,060 blood diseases and 177 virus confirmatory tests. In addition, Hail Health Affairs conducted 18 blood donation campaigns with participation of 6,256 donors. 7,350 tests for persons intending to marry were also done during the same period.
It is noted that Hail regional laboratory has virus testing devices using advanced techniques such as NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing) technique, which is one of the research techniques largely used in blood banks. Hail Affairs is among the Kingdom's leading Affairs to obtain such technology. The device detects blood units and confirms that they are safe and free from viral diseases. Also, the laboratory has PCR device (Polymerase Chain Reaction), a technique used to amplify DNA.
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Health (MOH), in line with its contribution to achieve the targets 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 aspiration of our wise leaders - May Allah protect them.
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-Sulaymaniyah, Al-Wadi, Al-Khaleej, Al-Murabba, and Al-Mansoura districts. All are model centers. Also, all MOH's centers will be reconstructed with similar templates, in addition to new centers that will be set up. The new 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. Furthermore, 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 and 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.