Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah honored a number of hospitals that have rendered outstanding services in compliance with their affiliation with the US-based Joint Commission International (JCI) for the adoption of health facilities.
The JCI accredited hospitals that were honored included King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saud Babtain Cardiac Center in Dammam, King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam, King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, Ajyad Hospital in Makkah, Hira General Hospital in Makkah, King Abdulaziz Hospital in Taif, King Saud Hospital in Unaizah and King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah.
Speaking during the ceremony held in the capital yesterday, Al-Rabeeah thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Naif, deputy premier and interior minister, for their constant support in delivering the best health care services to the nation.
He pointed out that these hospitals have practiced in accordance with the standards set out by the JCI and have been upholding the 'Patients First' motto advocated by the Ministry of Health.
Aside from the above mentioned hospitals, six more hospitals will be accredited to the JCI during the course of the year, he said. They are the King Abdulaziz Hospital in Jeddah, King Khaled Hospital in Najran, King Saud Medical City in Riyadh, King Fahd Hospital in Al-Baha, the King Fahd Hospital in Hofuf and the General Hospital in Asir.
The JCI has been working with health care organizations, ministries of health, and global organizations in over 80 countries since 1994. The JCI focus is to improve the safety of patient care through the provision of accreditation and certification services as well as through advisory and educational services aimed at helping organizations implement practical and sustainable solutions.
It has been accrediting health care organizations since 1999, and in 2009 marked the tenth anniversary of the first hospital accredited by JCI, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, a private, nonprofit, nongovernmental facility in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Since then, approximately 450 public and private health care organizations in 50 countries have been accredited or certified by JCI. It provides accreditation for hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, clinical laboratories, care continuum services, home care and long-term care organizations, medical transport organizations, and primary care services, as well as certification for 15 types of clinical care programs.
JCI standards were developed by international health care experts and set uniform, achievable expectations.
The minister explained that the hospitals honored yesterday had been working hard to comply with the requirements of the JCI to maintain global standards in the field of health care.
During his brief speech, WHO Resident Representative in the Kingdom Mustaffa Tayaan said that the ministry's efforts to improve medical services had greatly contributed to preventing the spread of communicable and noncommunicable diseases in the Kingdom. The mandatory insurance scheme introduced by the state had helped the Kingdom in maintaining a healthy society, he added.
Hospitals honored for services
Hospitals honored for services
New youth development policy aims to support their role in Vision 2030
- General Policy for Youth Development seeks to amplify the involvement of youth in the workforce across government institutions, the private sector and nonprofit organizations
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has introduced a new policy aiming to empower youth participation in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
The General Policy for Youth Development seeks to amplify the involvement of youth in the workforce across government institutions, the private sector and nonprofit organizations.
It aims to not only empower Saudi youth to be pioneers within the Kingdom, but also to become problem solvers and innovators on a global scale, the ministry added.
The policy hopes to become an empowering guideline by providing youth with tools and building blocks that will help create a long-term and sustainable environment in the Kingdom for youth to thrive.
The General Policy for Youth Development focuses on five main areas of growth and youth involvement: economic empowerment, community participation, extending education and lifelong learning, health and wellbeing and national identity and religious values.
According to the ministry, all of these objectives are tackled by the policy as it aims to reduce legislative gaps, address youth-related issues and financially empower youth-led initiatives.
For example, some of the objectives highlighted by the policy emphasize digital safety, protection from discrimination and violence, equal opportunities between the two genders, and empowering youth with disabilities.
Prior to establishing the policy, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development conducted in-depth research in youth preparation programs by examining the policies of 20 leading countries in the field, backed by the ministry’s organizing of over 34 workshops with stakeholders.
In the ministry’s pursuit of research, it also held meetings with both local and foreign experts in carrying out surveys that have targeted more than 11,000 young men and women across the Kingdom.
In 2024, the Youth Development Strategy was launched; which was developed with the support of over 30 government and private entities — a milestone that encompasses the Kingdom’s dedication to supporting its youth in diverse ecosystems.
The General Policy for Youth Development is another step forward in making the Kingdom a hub for youth enrichment, as 69.4 percent of the population is under 35 years of age and 35.9 percent of the population are aged 15 to 34.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development quoted in its policy document King Salman speaking about the importance of empowering the youth: “You are the nation’s investment in the future.”
