Manama: Saudi Arabia’s health minister has dismissed reports about plans to privatize public hospitals, saying that they were not true.
“We are building new hospitals and we are enhancing all their aspects and features,” Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Faleh, said. “Even if there is any plan for privatization, it will be in the long term,” he said, quoted by Saudi daily Al Madinah.
The minister said that there were long-term plans to introduce strategic changes in the health sector, but he said they would be first presented to the competent authorities in the authorities.
“We are providing good health services, much better than in many other countries, and we are working on ameliorating them. We want to improve the infrastructures of hospitals and bolstering the aptitudes of the medics,” he said.
Al Faleh added that solutions to the appointment issues could include extending the working hours and increasing the capacity of hospitals.
“With the construction of new hospitals that can treat a high number of patients, the current pressure on health facilities will be eased,” he said. “However, very importantly, there is need for citizens to assume their responsibilities by taking all precautionary measures to avoid health issues,” he said.
Al Faleh, the former Aramco CEO, was appointed health minister in April as part of a wide cabinet reshuffle.
The health sector has been under tremendous pressure recently and several ministers were given the portfolio in a short span of time.
One minister, Ahmad Khatib, was sacked after he was filmed arguing heatedly with a Saudi citizen. The clip went viral on the Net amid calls to take action against the official for ignoring a citizen and dismissing his arguments.