Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A thesis submitted for a master's degree at Jeddah University has uncovered rampant administrative corruption at the Ministry of Health. The thesis, which was approved by a scientific committee at the university, said a large percentage of the deterioration of the health services was the result the administrative corruption in the ministry. The thesis, presented to obtain an MBA, was titled: "Decisive measures to curb the impact of administrative corruption in the public health sector". The paper listed a number of corrupt practices, including appointment of unqualified people in senior administrative positions while ignoring the most qualified personnel because of prejudice and personal grudge. According to the thesis, about 51 percent of the ministry's budget was spent on paying compensations, incentives and bonuses to the employees. "About SR47.8 billion out of the ministry's total annual budget of SR92.6 billion was spent on compensations to the employees," it said. The thesis said the HR department is going around the rules and regulations to realize the personal interests of the employees over the public interests. "The HR is bending the rules to ensure the employees enjoy material privileges," it said. According to the thesis, another form of corruption in the ministry is favoritism. Some employees are preferred over others for promotions to positions that they do not actually deserve. It cited an example of a staff member, who is holding a Ph.D. degree in the management of health facilities, was placed at the warehouse to dispense stationery while a female employee with a master's degree in the management of the health data was appointed at the front desk to fix appointments for patients with the doctors. The thesis cited a case of an emergency ward, which was headed by six different people within period of only two years. The study also pointed out that a number of people who were suspects in corruption cases were given leading positions. It said heart operations were stopped in one of the hospitals while the maternity and children's section in another hospital was halted because of personal differences. The thesis also pointed out that eye surgeries in one region had to be suspended because the consultant surgeon was transferred to another hospital, which had no equipment for eye surgeries, as a penal measure against him. It recalled that committees were formed to investigate cases of corruption but their recommendations were never implemented. Some people at the top were defending the corrupt officials and impeding the implementation of the anti-corruption measures, the researcher concluded.
