Saudi King endorses 420 health projects worth over SR 12 billion

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud patronized at his palace on Friday a ceremony for the opening of 420 health projects and the laying of the foundation stone for 127 other health projects costing more than SR 12 billion. Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabee'a, said in a speech marking the ceremony, that the monarch will open more than 29 hospitals and health facilities, 391 primary health care centers and lay the foundation stones for two medical cities in the northern and southern regions of the Kingdom, projects in three medical cities, a specialist hospital, seven public hospitals, two medical towers, 73 digital operation rooms and 111 primary health care centers. The minister described the event as the largest in the history of his ministry. "Today's achievement brings to 54 and 645 the number of hospitals and primary health care units respectively operated by the Ministry over the last three years," the Saudi Minister said. The minister also added that his ministry is currently constructing 122 hospitals and towers, 305 primary health care units and is planning to double beds in its hospitals in the seven coming years.