JAZAN — Due to a lack of sufficient healthcare facilities in Jazan, many patients are forced to travel to other provinces to get important medical care. Abdullah Al-Rifaie said he is 65 years old and he has been coming to the Jazan Medical Commission for the past two weeks just to get him transferred to a hospital outside Jazan. "The commission's office is extremely crowded. People are fighting and arguing with the employees just to get a plane ticket to visit a hospital in another province. Some of the patients have cancer, others have cardiovascular diseases and others have a disability," said Al-Rifaie. He added they are all desperate to get appointments at any hospital in Riyadh or Jeddah. "People are afraid to miss their medical treatment with Jazan General Hospital still not operating. I had undergone a heart surgery a few days ago and I don't have the money to travel to Riyadh on my own for followup treatment," said Al-Rifaie. Abdulilah Muafa said the commission's office is crowded because the employees are disorganized. "The process of registering patients and granting them travel tickets and appointments at other hospitals is very complicated. Jazan Health Affairs does not seem to do anything to improve the situation," said Muafa. Jazan Health Affairs reported it will do its best to support Jazan Medical Commission to tackle the situation.
