It was originally the Disease Department, but now what has it become?!

* In recent years, Saudi society has suffered from premature deaths. The average age is (44 years); As for the causes, it is infectious diseases such as (smallpox, measles and tuberculosis), but the development of health, the presence of vaccines and the obligation to do so from an early age, prevent or limit the loss of life due to this, but another factor has led to an increase in the number of deaths; chronic modern diseases have spread, such as (diabetes, hypertension, respiratory diseases, obesity, etc.), and the complications and risks caused by them. *****

* Prior to 2016 AD, the Ministry of Health’s priorities and budget were devoted only to medicines and treatment. Citizens and residents turned to hospitals and health centers when they were sick, and in fact it was like a “Ministry of Sickness or Pain”. As a result, the mortality rate remained higher than normal. Yes (30 cases per 100,000 people).

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* However, the most important and biggest transformation has taken place in the Ministry since 2016 AD. The ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, under the leadership of its godfather, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman (May God bless him), transformed it into a (Ministry of Health and Hope), dedicated to enhancing the health of citizens through continuous testing and follow-up, strengthening prevention programs in collaboration with relevant institutions, and before that, the (Health Holding) and (National Insurance) programs provided by the health clusters in the regions are different from other programs in that the program is open and remains open for life; it has no specific financial restrictions.

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* This positive, “abundant and high-quality” transformation throughout the (healthy) arteries is one of the results of its first phase, which ends in early 2024 AD, with the number of deaths decreasing to (13 per 100,000 people) and the average age rising to (77.8 years), approaching the vision target (80 years).

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* The above is the title of the conversation I had the pleasure of having last Monday afternoon with His Excellency Dr. Fahd Al-Jalajel, Minister of Health. Thanks and appreciation to (Your Excellency) for your facilitation and transparency, also to (Saudi Opinion Writers Association) for generously organizing this meeting, and to the dear people of (Medina Health Conference) for the good reception and generous hospitality.

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This remains a call to His Excellency the Minister, because (My Beloved City of the Prophet) still needs more health projects, especially (specialized); this will help shorten the waiting time at its clinics and will also ease the trouble for patients to travel to (Riyadh or Jeddah), and I also hope to remove obstacles to the establishment of large private hospitals in the region, such as those that led to the departure of (Sulaiman Al-Habib Hospital) medical) and your safety.