JEDDAH — There is a need for 80 new health care centers to serve the 4 million residents of Jeddah, said sources from the health sector. Currently, there are only 42 operating centers in Jeddah and nine in nearby villages. The ministry is working on renewing the equipment in these centers, renovating their buildings and employing efficient lab workers to man X-ray rooms and laboratories. The Ministry of Health reported that it has started developing and renovating some of the centers in Jeddah and Rabigh as stated in the ministry's strategic development plan. A source from the ministry reported that the government department does plan to open new centers in the Kingdom with better medical equipment and more efficient services. The source said: “The aim is to have 110 health care centers in Jeddah within the next 10 years. “Each center will have the capacity to serve 44,000 people in emergency and preventive medical care for Saudis and non-Saudis alike.” The ministry aims to enhance first aid services in all areas of the Kingdom so they adhere to the country's first aid strategic development plan. The ministry began to prioritize preventive medicine and focus on chronic but detrimental diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma, said the source. “The ministry is also working on unifying the medical services offered in the various areas of the Kingdom. “Through a unified system, the ministry will be able to open health care centers in all areas of the Kingdom to aid hospitals that are overwhelmed with patients.” Opening new health care centers will offer more job opportunities for medical cadre in the Kingdom, said the source.
