Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH – In a major step to improve the quality of healthcare services in the Kingdom, the Council of Ministers on Monday assigned the task of endorsing a uniform national criteria for all healthcare institutions to the Saudi Center for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions.
The Cabinet session held at Al-Salam Palace here was chaired by Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense. Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session that the Cabinet approved conversion of the Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions to the Saudi Center for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions. At the organizational level, the Center will be linked to the Chairman of the Board of Health Services. A part of the Board's budgetary allocations will be set aside for the Center, and it will be given In a major step to improve the quality of healthcare services in the Kingdom, the Council of Ministers on Monday assigned the task of endorsing a uniform national criteria for all healthcare institutions to the Saudi Center for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions. financial and administrative flexibility so as to enable it to take advantage of local and international expertise. Dr. Khoja said the Center's functions include endorsing uniform national standards for all healthcare institutions in the Kingdom in the fields of health practices, including medical, pharmacy, and laboratory services, in addition to safety of institutions. The Center will also be in charge of giving approval for all healthcare institutions in the Kingdom, besides following up their performance to ensure their commitment to the approved criteria. The Cabinet approved transferring the tasks, which are being carried out by the Ministry of Health, with regard to the assessment and monitoring of the performance of private health institutions to the Center. Dr. Khoja said the Center will have a full time director general with a rank not below 14 and he will oversee its functioning. The Board of Health Services will define his powers and tasks. The Cabinet also approved minting additional 400 million pieces of 50 Halala coins with the current technical and security specifications. At the outset of the session, Dr. Khoja said, Crown Prince Salman praised Almighty Allah for bestowing the Kingdom with the blessings of safety, security, development and stability under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who harnessed the State's potentials, resources and organs with determination and dedication to serve the Kingdom and its citizens. He also thanked the citizens for their manifestations of pride and joy on the occasion of the 83rd National Day celebrations. The Cabinet also reviewed and expressed satisfaction over the plans and preparations for Haj. With regard to the recently concluded second international mass gathering medicine conference in Riyadh, the Cabinet welcomed the fact that the Kingdom is a worldwide reference for mass gathering medicine in view of its vast experience in serving the largest human gatherings during the Haj and Umrah seasons.
