JEDDAH — The Health Ministry has warned hospitals that fatal accidents, like the recent fire at Jazan General Hospital that claimed 25 lives, would occur if they continue to ignore safety measures stipulated by Civil Defense and the Central Board of Accreditation for Health Institutions (CBAHI). The two institutions had reportedly advised the ministry to improve security and safety systems at Jazan hospital but the ministry ignored them. CBAHI has approved only 12 of 283 government hospitals for 2016 and Jazan hospital was not among the accredited ones. An informed source at the ministry confirmed that the Jazan hospital and the Health Ministry had ignored many of the safety warnings of CDD and CBAHI. "The two organizations refused to give accreditation for Jazan General Hospital because of poor safety systems," Makkah Arabic daily quoting the official as saying. "The ministry should focus on resolving the safety issues of many public hospitals," the source insisted. A study conducted by a specialized company has found that many public institutions have dilapidated buildings, especially the maternity and children's hospitals in Jeddah's Aziziya and Musadiya districts. The Civil Defense has urged the ministry to take quick corrective measures to ensure the safety of these hospitals and health institutions. The source said investigations are still ongoing to establish the reason for the fire that engulfed the medical tower of the Jazan General Hospital. "The investigating committee will issue its official report shortly," he added. However, he stressed that the hospital was lacking sound safety and security systems as well as fire-fighting systems. "There was no plan for safety management. Employees had no idea how to deal with such situations," he said. Speaking about CBAHI, the official said it is the authority to provide accreditation to health institutions on the basis of quality services and systems. It reviews health facilities and their compliance to safety and security conditions and standards. CBAHI's accreditation programs are carried out by a team of experts including doctors, nurses and administrators and specialists in contagious diseases and safety management. The 12 hospitals approved by CBAHI are: King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, Quwaieya General Hospital, Hera Hospital in Makkah, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Makkah, Al-Thager Hospital in Jeddah, Haqel General Hospital in Tabuk, Central Security Hospital at Haer Prison in Riyadh, King Saud Medical City in Riyadh, Royal Commission Medical Center in Yanbu, Security Forces Hospital in Dammam, Armed Forces Hospital in Hada and King Faisal Hospital in Taif.
