(MENAFN - Arab News) Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said yesterday that the new budget proposals presented by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Kingdom Abdullah on Saturday would enhance the healthy living of all citizens.
The king announced a record surplus budget SR 9 billion for 2013, projecting expenditure at SR 820 billion and revenues at SR 829 million. The budget allocated SR 285 billion for new projects, SR 204 billion for education, SR 100 billion for health, SR 65 for transport and SR 57 billion for water, industry and agriculture.
Al-Rabeeah said the budget carries a package of pledges for the health care sector in the Kingdom,which would include more primary healthcare centers (PHCs), new hospitals and facilities.
Al-Rabeeah said that more PHCs will open in all the regions. Currently, the Ministry of Health runs more than 2,000 PHCs in the 20 health regions.
Besides the PHCs, he said 103 hospitals will be completed and furnished during this year. Agreements will be signed for another 19 new hospitals to fulfill the health needs of the people. He added that the ministry would also receive 29 hospitals from the contractors on completion of construction during this year.
"We are also planning to complete the five medical cities in the Kingdom," he said, adding that the establishment of five medical cities in the Kingdom is based on a directive from King Abdullah.
Al-Rabeeah pointed out that medical cities are spread out in the Kingdom, encompassing King Fahd Medical City serving the Central Province, King Abdullah Medical City serving the Western Province, King Faisal Medical City serving the Southern Province, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Medical City in the Northern Province and King Khalid Medical City in the Eastern Province.
The minister said that existing services at the Ministry of Health facilities will be upgraded with the state-of-the art equipment and regular training will be imparted to staff to keep abreast of the medical advances made in other parts of the world.
Meanwhile, on an area of 2 million square miles, the new headquarters of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, will be built.
The health minister signed the agreement yesterday in Jeddah for a new 650-bed facility at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh.
