Healthcare & Medicine

Saudi inks deal to start $1 billion medical city

Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement to kick-start construction of a SR4bn ($1.06bn) medical city project in the kingdom. Saudi Arabian Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah inked the contract for the first stage of King Faisal Medical City which will serve the southern province. Dr. Al-Rabeeah said the signing of the deal was part of the King Abdullah's vision to provide the highest level of healthcare to all Saudi citizens. The contract for the construction of the first stage of the King Faisal Medical City with a capacity of 500 beds was assigned to Al Fouzan Trading and General Construction Company. The contract period is for three years. "We were honored to sign these critical contracts today as they are a clear demonstration of the directives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to further improve our national healthcare system," the minister said in a statement. According to the minister, the new medical cities and specialized hospitals will enjoy full financial and administrative independence. The King Faisal Medical City will be built on an area of 262,836 sq. m. It comprises a specialized hospital, eye hospital, and cardiac and neuroscience hospitals. The clinical capacity of the KFMC totals 1,350 beds. It will also have 200 housing units and 200 independent apartments for the staff. Source: Arabian Business

Dubai Hospitals given deadline to meet standards

All hospitals in Dubai have been given a deadline to acquire international accreditations in an effort to raise standards in the healthcare sector. The Dubai Health Authority said it has given all hospitals operating in the emirate until the end of this year to get the accreditations. Dr. Ramadan Ibrahim, director of DHA Health Regulation said that 61 percent of hospitals already had accreditations, while 29 percent were in the process of obtaining it. However 10 percent of hospitals had not begun the process of accreditation yet, he added, saying that these were at risk of penalties - without giving details of what action might be taken against them. Dr. Ibrahim said: "Obtaining international accreditations is an important part of our strategy to ensure we further strengthen the quality of health sector in the emirate and provide the community with high standards of healthcare services." He added: "We will fully support all facilities that are facing any hurdles in obtaining these accreditations and we shall guide and support them. He said the deadline had been imposed "to ensure we fasten the process. We will take action only for those hospitals that have not even begun the process of accreditation." Ibrahim said the department was responsible for regulatory policies of more than 2,200 health facilities operating in Dubai, employing 18,000 nurses, technicians and doctors. Source: Arabian Business

New Qatar body aims to boost healthcare services

Qatar is to set up a new government body to help improve healthcare in the country, it was reported on Monday. The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) was set as part of Emiri Decision Number 15 of 2012, which was issued by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani on Monday. The PHCC will oversee all healthcare centers in the Gulf state and will be tasked with improving and monitoring standards of basic healthcare. A director general will be appointed and an annual budget decided in the coming months, according to the Gulf Times newspaper. The new body will be funded by the Supreme Council for Health, a watchdog set up in 2009 to look after health services provided by both the government and the private sector and supervises pharmacies, laboratories and training centers associated with healthcare. Source: Arabian Business