RIYADH: Some 4,000 Saudi doctors will be trained annually in accordance with the latest medical advances, as part of a new program by the Health Ministry under the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020.
The program will develop the skills of health practitioners in various disciplines, rehabilitate 50 health facilities and organize a refresher course for those with post-graduate qualifications, a ministry official said, adding that 755 health initiatives will be implemented in cooperation with 18 government bodies in the coming years.
Last week, Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah launched the first national health initiative under the NTP 2020.
He highlighted road accidents, obesity, lack of regular exercise and smoking as major causes of concern.
Some 80 primary health care centers were opened last year, bringing the total in the Kingdom to 2,390, Al-Rabiah said.
Some of the centers work more than 16 hours a day.
The number of counseling centers in the Kingdom has risen to 82, and the number of anti-smoking clinics has risen to 160, Al-Rabiah said.
A health survey of the population has been launched by the Health Ministry, whereby 9,300 medical teams will speak to 50,000 families comprising 250,000 members, he said, adding that there are 279 hospitals with 42,000 beds to serve people in the Kingdom.
4,000 Saudi doctors to be trained annually under NTP 2020
4,000 Saudi doctors to be trained annually under NTP 2020
Saudi Cabinet reviews cooperation and agreements with other nations
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs meeting and briefs ministers on his recent meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
- Cooperative efforts includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air transport
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers reviewed a number of domestic and international matters during a session in Jeddah on Tuesday chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The crown prince briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which included discussions about regional security and stability, the latest developments in the Middle East, and other topics of importance to the Arab and Islamic world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also shared with ministers the contents of a letter he received from the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The council discussed progress in cooperative efforts involving Saudi Arabia and other countries including Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Cuba and Kiribati, and approved a number of memorandums of understanding.
The cooperation includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air-transport services, the press agency said. Ministers also approved an agreement between the Saudi General Authority for Awqaf and its Omani counterpart relating to endowments.
They reviewed national initiatives, including one for the promotion of charitable work, and the enhancement of humanitarian and developmental efforts across the country.
A merger of the National Competitiveness Center with the Saudi Center for Economic Business to create a combined Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center was authorized.
