RIYADH: The Kingdom is well on its way to provide world class medical services for its residents, said Princess Hissah Al-Sha'lan, wife of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at a gathering at King Saud University on Saturday. She was speaking during a Ministry of Health ceremony to celebrate the launch of the home-based medical care program which has already benefitted 7,000 people in the country. The function was attended by Princess Adela Bint Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, a number of princesses, wives of diplomats, ministers and academics. Princess Hissah said she was impressed with the medical city because of its highly specialized doctors and modern equipment. She wished all the patients a speedy recovery and lauded the important role of the home-based medical care program. She said she was proud of all male and female Saudi doctors, especially those working in home medicine. Princess Hissah told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that citizens and patients are aware of the program because of the wide media coverage and other education initiatives. Answering a question from Okaz/Saudi Gazette, she said the program is supervised by the Ministry of Health, but this does not prevent interaction, contact and discussion with them. She said the private sector has played an important supporting role. The society, which she chairs and was established nearly 13 years ago, is based on support from the private sector and philanthropists, she added. Adel Al-Enizi, Chairman of Medical Services for the Home-Medicine Program at King Saud Medical City, disclosed that a comprehensive plan for home-based care is being developed in Madina. This is to provide quality services for beneficiaries. He said the Minister of Health wanted only the best care for patients. Al-Enizi stressed that the program has lofty humanitarian goals and added that patients often need more psychological than medical care. Patients are likely to heal quicker when they are at home with their families, he said. Dr. Haifa Al-Watban, Director of Home Care at the National Guard, said its program, the oldest in the Kingdom and the Middle East, was established about 17 years ago. It provides care for elderly patients and children in Riyadh region. She said the objective of the program is to reduce pressure on hospitals, outpatient clinics and emergency rooms and to protect patients from hospital infections. She said this was especially for those who have been bedridden for a long time and whose families had difficulty moving them outside, particularly patients on respirators and those who are totally paralyzed.
