Phase 1 of the Prince Mohammed BinAbdulaziz Medical City in the Northern Province of Saudi Arabia will be completed and in operations by the end of 2016, according to an official source.
The first phase of the medical city project will cover the construction of the main hospital with a capacity of 500 beds. The entire area, however, will eventually include specialized centers, aid facilities and outpatient clinics with an additional 500-bed capacity, bringing the total number of beds in the medical city to 1,000, the source added.
Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Medical City will serve areas in the Northern Province including Al-Jouf, Hail, Tabuk and the Northern Borders. It will provide several specialized healthcare services such as cardiology, oncology, neurology, ophthalmology and medical rehabilitation.
The source said Al-Fawzan Trading and Contracting Co. is handling the development of the project's first phase at a cost of USD 156 million (SAR 585.7 million).
Saudi Arabia has allocated SAR 100 billion from the current year's budget for the healthcare and social development sector. The budget will include health projects such as the completion and furnishing of primary health care centers in all the regions of Saudi.
Around 19 new hospitals and medical centers are included in the project, in addition to several healthcare and housing facilities as well as refurbishment of existing hospitals in the country.
Saudi Arabia is also seeking to establish five medical cities in various regions, which will offer a total capacity of 6,200 beds.
Zawya
20 July
