Gov. Prince Fahd bin Badr yesterday inspected progress at the 1,000-bed mega medical city under construction in the northwestern Saudi province of Al-Jouf.
The Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Medical City is being built on an area of over two million square meters. It will have 200 outpatient clinics, an administrative building, housing units and support services.
Dr. Nahar Al-Azmi, executive director of the city, said he briefed the governor on the project. “We handed over the site to the contractor last November and specialized national and international companies have started work on it.”
The project, which is being supervised by the department of projects at the Ministry of Health, was designed following international standards. Al-Azmi said 60 doctors and health officials have been sent abroad for higher studies to meet the city’s staff requirements.
“The medical city will serve all citizens in the region and other parts of the Kingdom,” he said, adding that he will seek the cooperation of all government departments.
The medical city in Al-Jouf will have a fully-equipped general hospital, cardiac center, eye hospital, general laboratory, and a rehabilitation center. It will create more than 6,000 jobs for Saudis and foreigners.
The health project in Al-Jouf is part of government’s attempt to ensure balanced regional development and reduce pressure on specialized hospitals in the main cities of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah visited the region a few months ago and met with Prince Fahd to discuss the project. He also disclosed the ministry’s plan to set up five medical cities in the Kingdom.
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is keen to provide equal health opportunities for people living in all parts of the Kingdom,” the minister said.
The health ministry has chalked out a strategic plan to increase the number of hospital beds and provide world-class services for families.
He said funds allocated for training and development of human resources have been doubled to ensure quality and speedy health services. “This is being carried out in coordination with the ministries of Labor and Higher Education.”
King Abdullah has ordered the construction of two medical cities in Riyadh and Jeddah under the Ministry of Interior. The two medical cities, with advanced facilities and specialist doctors, will receive patients transferred from other hospitals including the ministry’s hospitals in different parts of the country.
