HAIL/QUNFUDAH — Two more heads of government hospitals have requested the health authorities to relieve them following the high-profile resignation of Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Nekhailan, director of Hail General Hospital, press reports said Wednesday. Fahd Al-Shwaiqi, the director of Baqaa General Hospital, said he has asked the hospital's administration to relieve him of his post as medical director. Al-Shwaiqi denied that his decision to quit was triggered by Al-Nekhailan's resignation. According to a local Arabic daily, Al-Shwaiqi has not submitted his resignation. He has only requested the administration to relieve him of his duties as a medical director. “I have sent several requests throughout the year to the administration. Recently, I had been told that they would look into the matter after the Eid Al-Fitr holidays. However, I have no idea of whether my request has been approved or not,” said Al-Shwaiqi. Al-Shwaiqi further said that the work environment at the hospital did not prompt him to send his request for relief. The timing of his letter and that of Al-Nekhailan was a mere coincidence, Al-Shwaiqi said. “We did not decide about the resignation beforehand. I haven't spoken to him in two months,” said Al-Shwaiqi. Majid Al-Maeeli, spokesman for Hail Health Affairs, denied receiving any resignation request from Al-Shwaiqi. Al-Maeeli said the directorate received only one request, which was from Al-Nekhailan. Meanwhile, Medical Director of Qunfudah General Hospital Dr. Ibrahim Al-Shaikhi has submitted a request to the Qunfudah Health Affairs Directorate, asking it to relieve him of his duties. Muntasir Bakhsh, spokesman for Qunfudah Health Affairs, confirmed the news without revealing any details. Hail General Hospital's new medical director Muhammad Hamdan Al-Shammary said he will work hard and try his best to reduce complaints of alleged medical malpractices at the hospital. “My only goal right now, along with the Ministry of Health, is to reduce medical errors, which can only be achieved by recruiting well-trained healthcare professionals,” said Al-Shammary.
