A French doctor, Dr. Khaldoun Moulna, Head of the ENT Unit and the Head and Neck Specialist Center in King Fahd General Hospital, Jeddah, has been conferred with the highest French civilian distinction, the ‘Chevalier' –National Order of Merit of France, in recognition of his services for strengthening ties between France and Saudi Arabia. The honor, presented last week, was as per the presidential decree of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. S.E Bertrand Besancenot, French Ambassador to the Kingdom, officially presented the medal to Dr. Moulna at the residence of the French Consul General, S.E. Christian Nakhle, who organized the ceremony. Guests included, Prof. Jean Pierre Bebear from Bordeaux University, France, former member of the European Parliament and vice president of theAquitaine Region in France; Ghassan Moualem, Consul General of Lebanon; and Adnan Hamwi, Consul General of Syria. Dr. Moulna, who is a consultant ENT surgeon, specializing in head, neck and facial aesthetics surgery, is president of the French Medical Club (CMF) in Jeddah, medical consultant adviser to the French Consulate, and board member (ENT) of the Saudi Board Council training committee. ‘The award is a symbol of the high principles of freedom, brotherhood and equality that the state of France stands for. It shows how much priority the decision makers give to the concept of public interest,” said Dr. Moulna, speaking at the ceremony. Dr. Moulna came to Jeddah in 1994. He founded the ‘Francophone Club' comprising eminent French doctors in Jeddah. “We now have 120 member doctors, out of which 40 to 50 are Saudi nationals, 20 are French, and the rest are from other countries,” Dr. Moulna said, speaking exclusively to Saudi Gazette. He said club members share their medical experiences and promote the French medical school of thought. “In France, there is only one school of thought and a uniform concept of treatment throughout the country, while here there are many different methods, concepts and challenges,” he said. Dr. Moulna said the disparity in medical treatments and procedures in the Kingdom is due to the fact that medical practitioners here are from different countries, such as, Egypt, Syria, Canada, etc. “All doctors are not trained according to the local curriculum; hence, they apply procedures studied and practiced in their countries,” he explained. “Doctors here are very knowledgeable irrespective of their nationality. An important factor is the controlled system, and the Saudi system is not bad. The Saudi authorities have full control to monitor and handle the system. Though there are minor issues, these are normal in any country,” Dr. Moulna observed. He said the French medical system is ideal and recommended that the Kingdom should adopt the same. “The French emergency system, concept of medical insurance, hospital management, etc., are among the best in the world.” In France, he said, medical and university education is free for all citizens. “The standard is high; research is liberal, and the technology system competent.” Dr. Moulna plans to introduce French medical tourism here. “Saudi patients will be taken to France for treatment. The country has many good medical centers, for example, for physiotherapy, thalassotherapy (medical use of sea water), etc. The French are specialized in medical tourism,” he said. As a coordinator between Saudi Arabia and Bordeaux University, France, Dr Moulna says: “I am promoting the uniform medical concept of France, which can be obtained under the guidance of a French faculty in a university there. This year, 290 Saudi doctors are pursuing specialization courses in France.”
