JEDDAH — A kidney center that was intended to improve services for patients still has not become operational, despite construction work on the building being completed. The new kidney center was built next to King Fahd Hospital medical tower, which is already operational even though it was constructed much after the center. Kidney patients are complaining that the current kidney center in King Fahd Hospital does not have enough capacity. They said the center is also old and does not offer enough privacy for women patients. They pointed out that there are not enough beds for dialysis patients, appointments are set according to availability and patients are not allowed to choose times that are suitable for them. This can be inconvenient to some patients because they often have jobs or other responsibilities, they said. They claimed health officials assured that the new kidney center would be operational after Eid Al-Adha, which was celebrated in October. The current kidney center has been serving patients for the past 25 years, according to its social specialist Dr. Muna Banqash. It was originally meant to serve patients for five years only until a new center was built. She pointed out around 620 patients need dialysis and the center performs these procedures over six shifts a day. The center is experiencing great pressure from patients, some of whom live outside of Jeddah, she said. The new kidney center is a three-story building that can accommodate 800 patients and covers a 2,300 sq. meter area. The center is located in King Fahd Hospital and is supposed to be staffed with 17 consultants, 34 doctors and 280 nurses.
