JEDDAH – Continuing improvements in both the physical expansion and in the quality of health services provided at King Abdulaziz Medical City are currently underway. The medical complex has launched a series of developments and medical projects, namely in the cardiology center, out-patient center, and the Nursing College at King Saud University for Health Sciences. The medical city has also witnessed grand expansion to the ER facilities, burn unit, and the foundation of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center. Dr. Bandar bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Qanawi, the executive director general of the National Guard Health Affairs and director of the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences said, “The National Guard Health Affairs always play an important role in the development of the ability of doctors and staff to keep pace with their scientific peers in developed countries and to meet the highest worldwide standards in health care.” A vital pillar and one of the top priorities and the focus of concern and work for the King Abdulaziz Medical City is the Princess Norah Oncology Center, which is one of the leading cancer treatment centers in the western region. The center strives to meet the entire needs of the cancer patient, from first diagnosis, to in-patient care, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and social support. “Due to the increased demand and rise in the number of cancer patients at Princess Norah Oncology Center, expansions have been recently completed. A new two-floor building has been annexed to the eastern wing of the original center, providing an additional space of a total of 4,200 square meters. “To facilitate patients' movement between the two buildings, the old and new buildings have been joined by a pedestrian, air-conditioned bridge, which also ensures ease of communication throughout the entire oncology center,” said Dr. Al-Qanawi. “The expansion has freed up 88 extra adult patient beds, fully equipped with the most modern technological advances in oncology patients' care. Ever since the foundation of Princess Norah Oncology Center in the year 2001, it has treated over 11,000 cancer patients with a growth in the number of patients received at around 15% annually,” added Dr. Al-Qanawi. The new oncology center also takes the family of the patient into consideration as there are comfortable waiting areas, lecture halls, and patient education centers, and a social services center, which may help the family help the patient on the road to recovery. The Princess Norah Oncology Center had obtained the most modern medical devices used in oncology diagnostics and radiation therapy two years ago. Dr. Sulaiman Al-Ghamdi, head of the Radiation Department at Princess Norah Oncology Center said, “This device is the most recent revolution in the world of oncology radiation as it enables the medical team to treat tumors that have been difficult to treat in the past using high-resolution techniques such as IMRT, IGRT, SRS and Rapid Arc.” – SG
